Champions League Winner Jesper Blomqvist has been registered as a player for Hammarby , as they seek promotion back to the Allsvenskan, at the first time of asking.
Former Manchester United winger Blomqvist won the coveted European title in 1999 but has donned his boots for one last time in oder to help the club, where he is employed as assistant coach, to win the Superettan.
Blomqvist signed on as a coach at the Stockholm club at the end of last season, with his last professional playing spell coming at fierce rivals Djurgardens in 2005, where he won the Allsvenskan title.
His stint at Soderstadion follows two ordinary years as coach at Enkoping Sk, who will this year ply their trade in Sweden`s second division. He last featured as a player for them, playing 10 matches , when they endured an injury crisis during the 2008 season.
The former Ac Milan and Parma star is focused on helping Hammarby, one time Swedish Champions in 2001, back to the top flight, starting with Tuesday`s opening fixture with Angelholms If.
While he may not be up to the same standard as in the past , he will nonetheless offer valuable experience to his team mates. Blomqvist also feels the fans will have a huge role to play this year.
“It is great to have so much support in the stands, no doubt about it. We had five thousand at our last friendly at Söderstadion,” beamed a down to earth Blomqvist who knows that the road back to the top will not be as straight forward as many think.
” It will be tough but we will give it everything we have “.
Fri, Apr 16, 2010
Superettan, Sweden