PDA

View Full Version : Johansson left US



Rogue
06-28-2013, 02:16 AM
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/03/19/seattle-sounders-cut-ties-swedish-right-back-adam-johansson


TUKWILA, Wash. — Adam Johansson (http://www.mlssoccer.com/players/adam-johansson) has played his final game for the Seattle Sounders before even making his 2013 debut.Official word is expected to come from the team soon, but head coach Sigi Schmid told reporters on Tuesday that the Sounders will “part ways” with the Swedish right back.
Schmid said the decision was primarily about creating some salary-cap space, but the likelihood of Brad Evans (http://mlssoccer.com/players/brad-evans) playing more right back once Shalrie Joseph is fit and the emergence ofDeAndre Yedlin (http://mlssoccer.com/players/deandre-yedlin) also contributed to the decision.
“It’s very important for Adam’s career for him to have regular first-team minutes, because he’s on the Swedish national team,” Schmid said. “And with Brad maybe dropping to right back, DeAndre’s development, that might not have made that an all regular basis for him.”
Johansson has not been available for any of the Sounders’ first four competitive matches this season, something that had been chalked up to his recovering from injury. More recently, he hadn’t even been training with the team even though Schmid said he’s now fully fit.
READ: Martins goes the distance to make debut with Sounders (http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/03/17/weary-world-traveler-obafemi-martins-makes-his-debut-seattle-sounders)
In his first year with the Sounders, Johansson had two assists in 21 league starts after coming over from Sweden’s IFK Göteborg on a free transfer.
His performance was good enough to get back into the Swedish national team and was called up regularly over the past year.
“I think at the end of the day, the recognition is that he realized it’s beneficial for him, as well,” Schmid said. “For him to get into the World Cup team in 2014, to continue to be part of qualifiers like he was originally up until this round of qualifiers – because he hadn’t played due to the injury, not for any other reason – if he’s not getting regular minutes then that’s going to hurt him in that development.”

Dude's a Swedish national-team player and he surely wants to make their 23-man squad next year in Brazil, but playing outside of Europe would definitely count against his odd. It's really a good move for him to come back home imho. Dude's 30yr old so 2014 will probably be his last chance to represent his country on the world up. Dude's one of the best international players to ever play in the MLS, best wishes for him and for his country.