The All Star Game 2009 was a game I really enjoyed getting selected for and playing.
Would like to thank everyone who voted for me. I am very grateful to be voted the No 1 one player by the fans in my first MLS season!
Have since the match got a few questions about what happened in reference to my migraine attack and penalty kick and thought it was time to give you some inside information.
With around 5 minutes left of the game I got an unusually severe migraine attack and walked up along the sideline to Coach Kinnear.
Unfortunately I had not previously mentioned to him about my problems with migraine sometimes and Kinnear had of course no way of knowing which resulted in the following hilarious conversation.
- I can’t see anything and can’t play any more!
- Ok, no problem just stay in this area and continue to play (Coach Kinnear)
- but I really can’t see anything at all!
I did as I was told and decided it was too short time to try to explain the situation and decided I could wait out the last 5 minutes of the game and then go to the dressing room to get my medicine.
Unfortunately the game was not allowed to end in a tie as I thought. So penalties was to follow, and the conversation therefore continued;
- Freddie, you take the first penalty (Coach)
- no, I can’t see anything!
- ok, ok, but if it goes to a sixth penalty you take it Freddie (Coach)
- but I can’t see anything!
- ok, ok, just hit it straight on (Coach)
As we were standing just beside the bench I later found out from my Sounders team mates sitting there that they had overheard the whole conversation.
I of course got a lot stick from that later on…!
Again no blame at all should fall on Coach Kinnear who I think is an excellent Coach with a clear goal of always playing entertaining football.
It was of course my responsibility to make the situation clear to him but unfortunately when you get an attack you get very weak, and all of a sudden I found myself just standing there having to take a penalty kick.
Video: MLS All-Star penalty shoot out
//Freddie
Comments (9)
Small talk
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Thank You Fans http://bit.ly/bOHdNw
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New game against Los Angeles Galaxy http://bit.ly/c5PT62
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Let the players decide who will win... http://bit.ly/99lvQM
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Extremely disappointing to draw against the defending champions http://bit.ly/cToOtf
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Big game tonite. Replay of the champions league final http://bit.ly/boPEvg
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Preseason training camp in Arizona
Been in training camp in Arizona for a week now. We have been running our asses off and we are all a bit tired, but no pain no gain.
Preseason training camp in Arizona
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"Top 5" stadiums in the world
Started thinking about the five best football stadiums I ever played at and came up with my personal “top 5″ list that I wanted to share with you.
"Top 5" stadiums in the world
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That is great insight! So clearly the Great Freddie Ljungberg can do almost everything but can’t score penalty kicks blind and with a migraine . Something to practice I suppose. Keep up the great post Freddie!!
hej, när har du planer på att komma till sverige igen, fram för allt stockholm då?
lycka till /ellinor
Thought you were just fab in the All Star game in spite of your migraine.
Freddie, Seattle loves you & you have made football fans in Seattle thrilled by playing for our city!! Off course, we support all the Sounders but when you are on field, we just yell louder ‘cause we adore you
Thank you for talking so graciously about Seattle in interviews. Plus you have definitely helped the image of US football internationally so thank you for that as well. So happy the Sounders are in the playoffs! Love you Freddie!
Freddie,
I am not much of a poet….but wrote a little ditty for you and the guys…. I join the city of Seattle in having fallen head over heals in love with the MLS Sounders. There is so much great energy around the team! I wish you a great game on Saturday!
How do I love the Sounders?
Let me count the ways….
There is Freddie Ljungberg with his cute balding little boy look.
He is passion and fire and wrote the playmaker’s book!
Ohh our Ozzy who never lets up
He fights and he’s scrappy, he’s going for the cup!
There is Roger, who looks goofy most of the time
You gotta love him, a cusp player they call him, but his goals are all prime!
Leo he joined us late, but he brought something that made us complete
He gave us a big D edge, that has let us compete.
Seba I love most, he loves the fans- he gave a boy his shoe after one match.
He plays with such heart….. Us Mom’s agree, he’s the one who’s a catch!
Nate seems to beast when we need him the most-
Head bandaged tight, he helped secure silverware we can boast!
Brad Evans so solid playing for the NMT
We feel confident when it is you we see.
Patrick Ianni, with your bicycle kick!
Goal of the week, it was my pick.
Stevie Z you smile and brighten the pitch
You always look sneaky, you know your niche.
Then there is giggles, playing tough in the back.
James saves our butt with his awesome attack.
El Presidente keeps us secure
He looks so serious playing soccer that’s pure.
Freddy is growing, and maturing along.
He is young, and dramatic but ultimately strong.
Tyrone Marshall is the consummate pro.
Calm and composed, he knows where to go.
Peter Vagenas, he plays for Sigi.
He plays for Sigi, He plays for Sigi!
There are guys we have not seen much on the pitch:
Terry Boss
Evan Brown (You’re a song)
Chris Eylander ( We loved you as a Husky and our USL keep)
Michael Fucito
Taylor Graham (gives great commencement speeches!)
Stephen King
Lamar Neagle
Sanna Nyassi (He is the good twin)
Zach Scott
Nathan Sturgis
Tyson Wahl
They’re a part of the team and they never bitch!
There is Kasey who keeps the bad goals away
I am so glad he came here to play!
Oh Yee our coaches Brian, Tom and Sigi
Thanks for the moments you’ve given this town,
All the rest are Biggies
Don’t let us down!
You were on a tear that night. Most of us at home in Seattle knew something was wrong at the end.
It’s amazing to watch you play for the Sounders. As a Gunner’s fan I had flashbacks to you passing to Henry in the last match. You were playing on another level.
Thanks for the blog and all you do for the Sounders.
That is amazing you were able to do that with a severe migraine. I too suffer from severe migraine/cluster headached, that make me very ill! I have read you have them and have often wondered if yours are cluster headcahes, as they are very rare.
I am a new fan to soccer and a season ticket holder……GO SOUNDERS…..
Freddie you’re the best thing that happened to MLS
Tjena Chefen. Hörde att du trots migränattacken försökte dig på en gammal hederlig chip. Det gör mig oerhört stolt. Janne J var nog inte lika stolt när jag körde den i Tuneringen i Norge he,he/Gunde
Freddie, First of all Thank You for signing my jersey last night at Home Depot.(I was told that I could only have 1 signing by the people running the autograph session) This jersey is for my best friend in London which I have not seen in several years. He will be overjoyed, as he is a Huge Gunner fan.( maybe I will get another chance in the future, so I can get your autograph) When I spoke with you last night I told you I would be going to the Gunner- Spur game at the Emirates on Saturday October 31 and I forgot to give you a Migraine Medicine name that has saved my life. Anyway if you do read these comments the name of the medicine is RELPAX 40MG. I too have been suffering with migraines since I trained with Stoke City in the early 1980’s. I have tried over 75 different medications and remedies (oxygen,imitrex and several others) and this one works about 80% of the time. Anyway Thank you again, Your #1 fan
Richard