10 facts about West Brom's new signing Markus Rosenberg

West Brom have announced their latest signing today in the form of Swedish striker Markus Rosenberg. The 29 year old is their 4^th summer signing following the arrivals of Ben Foster, Claudio Yacob and Yassine El Ghanassy, but for those of you who don’t know, who is Markus Rosenberg?

1. Despite now being a striker, Markus was originally a right back in the youth team at his hometown club Malmo.

2. It wasn’t at Malmo where he made his first impact on football, but actually whilst on loan at Halmstads BK in 2004. He helped HBK to a runner up medal by becoming the league’s top scorer pushing his parent club, Malmo, to the final day of the season in the Championship race. Interestingly he moved out on loan as he couldn’t get in the first team ahead of one time Middlesbrough farce Afonso Alves.

3. After heading back to Malmo and helping them to another league win by topping the goals and assists charts in Sweden he secured his first big move to Dutch giants Ajax. During his time in Holland he was converted into a left winger on occasions and scored against Arsenal in the Champions League.

4. It was during this time he made his international debut and has so far amassed 33 caps scoring 6 goals

5. He is well known for being punched in the stomach by Liverpool flop Christian Poulsen during a mass brawl and pitch invasion that saw a game between the two Scandinavian sides abandoned in 2007.

6. After losing his first team place to Klaas Jan Huntellaar he moved to German side Werder Bremen where he had a very good start to his career in Germany becoming the clubs top scorer in his first full season but recently the goals have dried up and was even sent out on loan to Spanish side Racing Santander.

7. During his time in Germany he became known as something of a joker amongst the players and fans of the Bundesliga.

8. Markus is also something of a heartthrob for female fans, regularly appearing in top ten countdowns of the best looking men in football.

9. Has expressed a desire to finish his career back at Malmo, where he started his career as a 5 year old in 1987, but still feels he has plenty to offer in Europe for a couple of seasons yet.

10. Strong in the air with a real poacher’s instinct as well as a good working attitude Rosenberg should fit in well at West Brom. He will provide brilliant competition and has a habit of starting out well with new clubs, something The Baggies will be hoping to see the Swede replicate with goals at The Hawthorns.

Here is Markus with a typically composed finish for Werder Bremen ...

image: © hisgett