Fredrik Ljungberg has picked up the Guldbollen as Sweden's Footballer of the Year for 2006.
The 29-year-old Arsenal FC midfielder was honoured for his contributions for both club and country over the last 12 months. As well as helping Arsenal to the UEFA Champions League final last May, Ljungberg also represented Sweden at the FIFA World Cup in Germany before taking over the international captain's armband from Olof Mellberg.
"I am proud and pleased to be standing here tonight," he said, "but I couldn't have done it without my team-mates from either Sweden or Arsenal."
Ljungberg's fellow Swedish internationals Tobias Linderoth and Marcus Allbäck, who are playing in the UEFA Champions League with Danish side FC København, were named as best midfielder and best striker, with the defensive and goalkeeping awards going to Petter Hansson of SC Heerenveen and Rami Shaaban from Fredrikstad FK respectively.
IF Elfsborg's title-winning coach Magnus Haglund was Manager of the Year, while the best young player prize was collected by Örgryte IS's 20-year-old midfielder Ola Toivonen.
18 August 2006
Danish champions FC København have set about filling the hole left by the departure of star striker Álvaro Santos by signing another Brazilian, Aílton Almeida.
Currently at Swedish side Örgryte IS, the 22-year-old will join København in January on a four-and-a-half year contract in a deal worth in the region of €3m.
It makes him the most expensive player in the Superliga's history.
