Markus Holgersson to Red Bulls

cala88 · Jan 4, 2012

He is a very good defender!

http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/soccer/news/story?id=7422859

Idolg1982 · Jan 4, 2012

I hope so.

vtron · Jan 22, 2012

Our very own Per Mertesacker? Minus 3 inches?
Just kidding - hopefully he will work out better than Per to Arsenal, always trust a Swede

DontJustStareAtIt · Jan 23, 2012

Didn't get to play the first game, but got 90 minutes in the winter national team's 5-0 victory against Qatar (Olympic team/u23s?). Ratings in the media 2-/5, 2/5, 2/5.

charlieblackmouth · Jan 29, 2012

A Swede living in NYC wrote something about Holgersson's move and living in NYC in general

I ran it through google translate

DontJustStareAtIt · Jan 30, 2012

charlieblackmouth said: ↑

A Swede living in NYC wrote something about Holgersson's move and living in NYC in general

I ran it through google translate
Click to expand...

Just a NY beat columnist who unfortunately in addition to his generic NY/US pop culture references also gives his two cents on current sports events.

iamalfred · Feb 16, 2012

http://hd.se/sport/2012/02/16/holgersson-forvantas-styra-och/

Holgersson expected to run things

A good Allsvenskan salary. That's what Markus Holgersson will be making during his adventure in New York. "I will become rich in other things" the defender says.

Markus Holgersson and his new teammates in New York Red Bulls have just finished the first training camp of the preseason. It took place in Mexico and the team is heading for the airport when we reach Markus on the bus.

- The camp was perfect. It's been good becoming part of the team, and by the look of things I will be a starter when the league kicks off.

You know the story. Markus declined an contract extension with Helsingborg and instead chose to sign with New York. He denies that money was the reason behind this.

- Since the clubs have a salary cap only the stars earn the big money. My salary is comparable to a good Allsvenskan salary.

According to the players union who publish the salaries the big profile duo of Thierry Henry and Rafael Marquez earn $5.6 and $4.6 million yearly. If you don't count these kind of salaries the other players average around $100k.

- I didn't come here to get rich moneywise, but instead for other reasons outside of football. I feel that is more important and fun in the long run, says Markus.

Sportswise he can be happy that coach Hans Backe has already shown great confidence in his swedish central defender. In three preseason game he has gotten plenty of playing time.

- In the first two games we subbed almost all eleven players at halftime. But in the latest game I went the full 90 minutes and we played with our strongest lineup. The coach expects me to run things and be the uniting force in the back.

- Hasse has his scandinavian influences and therefore the tactical - keeping the parts of the team tight, pressuring and zonal play - is pretty similar to what we use in Helsingborg.

It's still early, but what are your impressions of the team?

- The difference with the players over here is that the players that are expected to have the standout skills really stand out with those skills. But we are better schooled in Sweden.

Tomorrow the big star Thierry Henry will join the team.

- You notice by the way that people in the club talk about him that he still has a really high status. It's similar to when Henrik Larsson returned to Helsingborg. It will be great and fun to play with a guy like Henry. There are alot of things I can learn from him.

And what can Markus Holgersson teach Thierry Henry?

- To work hard and become a winner, jokes Markus and laughs.

Today he will start looking for an apartment in the capital of the world.
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