BRIEF ENCOUNTER
WHEN Freddie Ljungberg returned to Arsenal in 2018 to coach the academy side, Gooners around the world were delighted.
After all, their prodigal son was back, an 'Invincible', born-winner and a proper crowd favourite.
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Now, Gunners fans will have to get behind the Swede, who was appointed interim manager today following Unai Emery's sacking, ahead of Sunday's Premier League match at Norwich.
But what was it that made Ljungberg, now 42, such a hero in North London?
Well, it could've been his shocking, spiky red hair that made him look like Johnny Rotten.
And it didn't hurt amongst Arsenal's female fan base that he modelled underwear for clothing giants Calvin Klein.
Here's looking at you, 'Super Freddie'.
BARGAIN BUY
In 1998, the usually shrewd Arsene Wenger paid £3m for Ljungberg from Halmstads BK.
Arsenal's scouts had been keeping a careful eye on the winger, but the French manager hadn't seen him play in the flesh himself.
However, 'The Professor' decided to pull the trigger on the transfer after he witnessed Freddie tear England apart in an international match for Sweden on the TV.
And Ljungberg immediately made himself a star, scoring on his debut against Manchester United in a 3-0 win - just minutes after coming on as a sub.
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Fans took to him instantly with his brilliant dyed hair in the club's famous colours, that made him look like he should've been playing bass in Green Day rather than flying down the wing at Highbury.
A PIN-UP
With his chiselled abs, high cheekbones, and brooding looks, Ljungberg was soon recognised as England's sexiest footballer.
He had women swooning all over him.
His reputation was helped by a modelling contract he signed with American fashion house Calvin Klein, with who he showed off their underwear range.
Notably, female fans were impressed with his bulge.
“It sounds so cocky and I will not whine, but if, for example, I’d go to a night club, girls would come up and grab my crotch,” he told Swedish paper Di.
“Just like that. It was happening everywhere. They came from behind, side, pulled and tugged at me.
"The worst part was that you could not do a damned thing about it. When I angrily removed my hands, people just laughed.
"Some people thought that I could blame myself, I had done Calvin Klein and played for a top team.”
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IT'S PERSONAL
Despite his high-profile, Ljungberg has always liked to keep his personal life private.
In 2014, he finally married his longterm partner, socialite Natalie Foster, 31, at a ceremony in front of the Natural History Museum in London.
Arsenal legends including Tony Adams were guests at the star-studded affair.
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Amusingly, Foster - the daughter of London taxi tycoon Daryl Foster - is a Tottenham fan.
The pair have two children together, and are believed to live in an affluent area of North London.
Just imagine if Freddie leads Arsenal to success... he'll have to deal with grief from a Spurs supporter in his home!
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A PENCHANT FOR INK
Ljungberg was part of the generation of footballers who began to embrace body art in the 90s and early 2000s.
In his Calvin Klein shoots he was happy to show off a black cat tattoo on his hip as he modelled in his pants.
And once he was snapped on a bicycle showing off two large black panther tattoos, located on each side of his back.
Ljungberg is also believed to have a sleeve “an intricate collage of angels in the clouds, skulls and the Big Ben clock tower,” according to Page Six.
It was designed by Mister Cartoon in LA in 2010, who is said to have a six-month waiting list, and reportedly took eight hours.
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NOT SO HIP
In 2005, a persistent hip injury saw Ljungberg miss vital games, and he sensationally revealed he had tests for Aids and cancer to find the cause of the problem.
However, it was soon diagnosed as a rare reaction to the ink from one of his tattoos that caused the issue and he had to have surgery on the hip to remove an inflamed gland.
He said at the time: "I was frightened. I was tested, but nobody seemed to know what was wrong with me.
"I was very worried. I did not feel sick or ill, but of course I was injured and we did not know why.
"Eventually the doctors worked out that it was something in the tattoos. I was relieved that they had found out the problem. I am fine now."
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CARS
Being an Arsenal footballer obviously pays well.
Playing in the Premier League, as well as enjoying stints in MLS, Japan and even India, made Ljungberg a wealthy man - with a fortune estimated to be around £8m.
He was once seen driving through North London in a Ferrari 360 Spider, which carries a price tag of around £85,000-£90,000.
Freddie also has been spotted sat in the boot of a Range Rover eating a plate of food alongside a dog as he celebrated "Boys night!" in 2013.
But proving that he's not that flash, in 2006 he was snapped getting out of a SMART car worth a reasonable £15k.
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