Sweden's second-tier Superettan is proving to be a popular landing spot for Wisconsin players looking to play professional soccer.
At least five players with state ties are set to play in the league this season after goalkeeper Alex Horwath (UW) recently signed with Ljungskile SK, joining former Badgers teammate Aaron Nichols at the club in southwestern Sweden.
Keeper Matt Pyzdrowski (Marquette) and defender Eric Pothast (Marquette) are with Ängelholms FF, while midfielder-forward Andrew Stadler (Wauwatosa West) also is in the league having signed with Landskrona BoIS this offseason.
The 26-year-old Horwath played in USL PRO each of the past two years, with the Wilmington Hammerheads and VSI Tampa Bay, after starting his career as a Major League Soccer pool keeper in 2010 and spending 2011 with the New York Red Bulls.
Interestingly, the Rochester Rhinos of USL PRO announced late last month that they had signed Horwath to play in the third-division league again in 2014 – after he already was on trial with Ljungskile.
Rhinos coach Bob Lilley, speaking on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reporter Jeff Di Veronica's radio show "Kick This!," said that Rochester was aware of the interest in Horwath and received a transfer fee for him. (Full report)
On Twitter: @AlexHorwath