Freddie Ljungberg has released a statement following his departure from Wolfsburg.
Ljungberg had been a coach at the Bundesliga club, but will now follow manager Andries Jonker out the door after he was sacked. He released a statement on Twitter thanking Wolfsburg for the opportunity despite the ruthless nature of the sacking.
Danke @VfL_Wolfsburg pic.twitter.com/czaflQxhTQ
— Freddie Ljungberg (@freddie) September 19, 2017
Wolfsburg have won just one of their opening four Bundesliga matches. A draw against Hannover and defeat to Stuttgart seemed to seal Jonker’s fate despite it being so early in the season, in my opinion.
Jonker was Arsenal’s academy director before he became Wolfsburg manager last February. He took Ljungberg, then a youth team coach at Arsenal, with him. The duo helped the Bundesliga club beat the drop and were hoping for a strong campaign this round.
I believe it’s clear from the statement that Ljungberg doesn’t agree with the sacking, but he’s responded in a very level-headed and classy manner. It’s possible that he could return to Arsenal as a youth coach.
Going by the responses I’ve seen to his tweet, the Arsenal fans certainly want him back. As for Jonker, I think his future is more uncertain.
Arsenal have already announced Per Mertesacker as the next academy director, and have even sold a few of the players Jonker brought into the club, such as Ismael Bennacer and Donyell Malen.