For a man afraid of heights, Freddie Ljungberg was doing well to keep his nerve at 1000 metres above sea level today [Thursday July 14] outside the balcony terrace at popular tourist location, Scenic World, in Katoomba.
The Arsenal legend – famous for his modelling work with Calvin Klein underwear as well as his glittering career on the soccer pitch – spent a half day in the Blue Mountains promoting the Gunners’ 2017 tour of Sydney, where the current full strength side will play back-to-back blockbusters against the Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC.
Ljungberg, 39, had a 10-year career at Arsenal, scoring 72 goals in 216 appearances, as well as a memorable winning goal in the FA Cup final in 2002. He was captain of the Swedish national team and now coaches Arsenal’s Under 15’s team.
“As a player sometimes you’re God and sometimes you’re the worst on the planet – and you’re always something in between. You just keep your feet on the ground,” he told the Blue Mountains Gazette.
Destination NSW expects the two Arsenal matches will attract more than 28,000 domestic and international visitors, with those visitors spending a total of $18.6 million.
Scenic World’s marketing spokeswoman Amanda Byrne said “large scale sporting events in Sydney are a fantastic opportunity for the Blue Mountains to take advantage of the international visitation and drive them up to the Mountains for day trips and overnight stays”.
Ljungberg visited Echo Point, went to Leura Garage for lunch and was returning for an Arsenal supporters event this evening and a media call in Sydney in the morning. During his three days in NSW, he also got up close and personal with koalas and kangaroos at Taronga Zoo and watched the State of Origin game.
He said hanging out with Australia’s most famous marsupials had been on his “bucket list” and his young daughter was very jealous at his pictures to his 171,000 Twitter fans. He dubbed the vistas in the Blue Mountains “stunning” and “amazing” but admitted to a fear of heights, something which limits his snowboarding hobby. He said the Mountains had also reminded him of his home in Sweden.
Despite being friends with a number of A Leaguers including Alex Brosque and Eddy Bosnar and flirting with the idea to play here a few years ago, he has no intentions of pulling on the professional boots again.
“I’m too old. I’m retired. I need a new body. There’s a quite a few bits and bobs that are broken so I’m done.”
The club ambassador said they would reward their loyal fans with plenty of opportunity to meet the players next year.
“The main thing is to get close to them. It’s difficult for them to come to England, it’s easier for us to come to them.”
Seats for next year’s matches at ANZ Stadium go on sale next Tuesday.