Ljungberg leaves Arsenal to take up Wolfsburg role

The former Sweden international has departed the Gunners after years of service, becoming the assistant to new Wolfsburg manager Andries Jonker

Posted Tuesday, February 28, 2017 by Goal.com

Club legend Freddie Ljungberg has left Arsenal to join Wolfsburg, as an assistant to new manager Andries Jonker.

Ljungberg spent nine years with the Gunners between 1998 and 2007 as a player, winning two Premier League titles, and returned to the club in 2016 to manage the Under-15 side, having previously served as a club ambassador.

However, he has now been lured away by the Bundesliga outfit, where he will work alongside Jonker, who has also left the Gunners.

Jonker had worked as Arsenal's academy manager, having previously left his role at Wolfsburg, and has now returned to the club in a managerial role after the Wolves sacked Valerien Ismael at the weekend.

"I have remained in contact with Wolfsburg over the years, but the enquiry did come as a bit of a surprise," he told a press conference.

"There are only a few clubs with the possibilities available to them that VfL have. This is a huge challenge."

When asked about Ljungberg's appointment, Jonker added: "He said that he is very looking forward to this. He is interested in developing the players individually and what he says is what I think. We will complement each other."