biography zlatan ibrahimovic

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Who Is Zlatan Ibrahimovic?

Born on October 3, 1981, in Malmö, Sweden, Zlatan Ibrahimovic overcame a rough upbringing to become a professional soccer star. He played for clubs in Sweden, the Netherlands, Italy, England and Spain, nabbing multiple scoring titles while leading his teams to eight consecutive league championships. One of the sport's most polarizing figures, Ibrahimovic released a bestselling autobiography in 2011.

Soccer player Zlatan Ibrahimovic was born on October 3, 1981, in Malmö, Sweden, to a Bosnian father and a Croatian mother. His parents divorced when Ibrahimovic was 2, and he spent a difficult childhood in the immigrant-populated district of Rosengård. By his own account, Ibrahimovic was a bicycle thief and a school bully, but he developed into a tall, agile athlete with an obvious talent for playing soccer.

Professional Career

Ibrahimovic made his professional debut for Malmö FF in 1999, and helped the second-division club make the leap to the first level the following season. The 6'5" striker then signed with the prominent Dutch club AFC Ajax and honed his formidable skills as part of two title-winning teams, though he also developed a reputation as a temperamental player.

After four years with Ajax, Ibrahimovic transferred to Juventus F.C. and led the Italian club to two Serie A championships. However, Juventus was stripped of those titles when club management was charged with fixing matches in the infamous Calciopoli scandal, and Ibrahimovic forced a transfer to A.C. Milan. More success followed for the towering striker, who won three straight Serie A titles and claimed his first league scoring crown in 2009.

Traded to F.C. Barcelona for Samuel Eto'o in 2009, Ibrahimovic starred for a loaded club that rolled to a league title and Super Cup victories, but he butted heads with manager Pep Guardiola and spent the following season on loan to A.C. Milan. The Italian club purchased his contract outright for 2011-12 and Ibrahimovic claimed his second scoring crown, although his amazing streak of eight straight seasons on a title-winning club came to an end.

After transferring to Paris Saint-Germain in 2012, the veteran striker proved he had plenty left in the tank by claiming a third scoring title with a career-high 30 goals, and leading the club to its first Ligue 1 title in 19 years.

Moving on to Manchester United in 2016, Ibrahimovic helped the English club win the 2017 UEFA Europa League Final. He returned the following season, but did not play after aggravating a knee injury in late December.

In March 2018, the club confirmed it had terminated the veteran player's contract, allowing him to follow through with a move to join the L.A. Galaxy in the U.S. Ibrahimovic followed with a statement on Instagram: "Great things also come to an end and it is time to move on after two fantastic seasons with Manchester United. Thank you to the club, the fans, the team, the coach, the staff and everybody who shared with me this part of my history."

Public Image and Personal Life

One of soccer's most polarizing figures, the striker trademarked "Zlatan" and "Zlatan Ibrahimovic" in 2003, establishing exclusive naming rights for sporting apparel and other products throughout the European Union.

Ibrahimovic met his girlfriend, former Swedish model Helena Seger, early in his professional career. They have two children together.

The soccer star released his autobiography, I Am Zlatan Ibrahimovic , in late 2011. The bestselling memoir detailed Ibrahimovic's rough childhood and his clashes with Guardiola and other players, and an English version was published in September 2013.

QUICK FACTS

• Name: Zlatan Ibrahimovic
• Birth Year: 1981
• Birth date: October 3, 1981
• Birth City: Malmö
• Birth Country: Sweden
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: Fiery Swedish soccer player Zlatan Ibrahimovic became one of Europe's top strikers while starring for eight consecutive title-winning clubs.
• Astrological Sign: Libra
• Nacionalities
• Interesting Facts
• Zlaran Ibrahimovic received a black belt in tae kwon do at age 17.

CITATION INFORMATION

• Article Title: Zlatan Ibrahimovic Biography
• Author: Biography.com Editors
• Website Name: The Biography.com website
• Url: https://www.biography.com/athletes/zlatan-ibrahimovic
• Access Date:
• Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
• Last Updated: February 7, 2020
• Original Published Date: April 3, 2014
• I'm like Muhammed Ali. When he said he would knock someone out in the fourth round, he did it.

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Zlatan Ibrahimović Biography Facts, Childhood, Career, Life

Zlatan Ibrahimović (born October 3, 1981) is a professional football (soccer) player from Sweden who is regarded as one of the greatest ever to grace the ecstatic game. Ibrahimović currently plays as a striker for AC Milan in the Seria A. He is greatly known for his immeasurable confidence, massive wingspan, body balance, shot power, accurate first touch, jaw-dropping goals, acrobatic controls and slick dribbles. Ibrahimovic is an honour ladened player who has graced top teams and all the top leagues in Europe. In our article on Zlatan Ibrahimović biography facts, childhood, career, and personal life, we bring to you, all you need to know about this amazing sports personality who has graced the game of football for a long while.

Table of Contents

Zlatan Ibrahimović Childhood & Early Life

Zlatan Ibrahimović was born on the 3rd day of October 1981 in Malmö Sweden to Sefik Ibrahimović (father, Bosnian and Muslim) and Jurka Gravić (mother, Croatian Catholic and partial Albanian descent).

Zlatan Ibrahimović delved into playing football when he first received a pair of soccer boots when he was 6. As a youngster, he had no permanent team. He played for FBK Balkan, a club made up of mainly Yugoslavian migrants, Malmö BI and Bk Flagg. He became a  starter for his hometown club Malmö FF at early teenage years.

By 15, young Zlatan came really close to ending his footballing carrier to have a job at the docks there in Malmö, but his manager who must have foreseen the future persuaded him to not stop playing.

As a youngster, his football idol was mainly Brazilian forward Ronaldo, and he also a knack for Gabriel Batistuta as well. Even in a recent interview with Heineken, he said he still idolises the Brazilian forward and referred to him as the most complete player. 

Zlatan Ibrahimović was a victim of abuse and bullying, even in football, but he showed resilience, and converted the annoyance into confidence, growing up to becoming a beast himself.

Zlatan Ibrahimović Football Career

Junior club career.

Senior Club Career

National Team Career

Malmö FF 1999–2001

Zlatan became an officially signed player for Malmö FF in 1996 and was then promoted to the senior team in 1999. The team relegated that season but returned in the following season.

Ajax 2001–2004

Arsenal coach, Arsene Wenger, failed at persuading Ibrahimovic to join Arsenal, but on the 22 March 2001, Ajax successfully signed Ibrahimovic for €8.7million.

On Arrival at Ajax, he was met with little playing time under the then Ajax manager Co Andriaanse. But on arrival of Ronald Koeman in November of the same 2001, Zlatan Ibrahimovic was quickly inserted to the starting line up where he helped them win the 2001/2002 Eredivisie title. 

On 22 August 2004, he brought the attention of football to himself when he scored a magnificent solo goal against NAC Breda, making his way past 5 of their players. The goal won goal of the year by Eurosport viewers.

Juventus 2004–2006

Ibrahimovic got sold to Juventus for €16 on the 31st August 2004, where he immediately got into the starting lineup and scored 16 goals which helped them top Serie A. At the end of the season, Zlatan Ibrahimovic was named Serie A foreign footballer of the year and in November 2005, he got the award Guldbozen for best Swedish footballer of the year.

In his second season, there were a few issues, he started playing more to the wing and then racking up assists much more than goals. In the subsequent season, fans got frustrated with him, then came the Sanction that forced the team to Serie B, making him force a move.

Inter Milan 2006–2009

Zlatan Ibrahimovic moved to Inter Milan for €24.8million where Ibrahimovic revealed that he supported inter when he was young. 

He made his premiere for inter against AS Roma in a super coppa Italiana on 26th August 2006, playing the full 90 mins. Inter Milan went ahead to win the match after extra time. Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored in his first Serie A debut match which was held against Fiorentina on 9 September the same year. He went ahead to be the top scorer for the team in Serie A as the team won the league that season with 97 points. 

The next season, he scored the goal of the year with a backheeled shot. In the 08/09 season, he was the league top scorer with 25 goals helping inter to another league title while winning footballer of the year and foreign footballer of the year for the second consecutive season.

Barcelona 2009–2011 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic moved to Barcelona in the summer of the 2009 season signing a 5-year contract. He became the very first player ever to score in his first five league matches. He was selected to be part of the 2009 UEFA team of the year. 

Zlatan’s issues at Barcelona ensued when Messi complained that he wanted to play in the middle, not on the wing, forcing him, Zlatan, out of his natural position.

The lion was not the one to sit on the bench so he was loaned out to AC Milan on 28 August 2010 with a purchase clause, which Milan would go to activate when the loan period was over. He signed a 4-year deal hoping to win the champions league, Zlatan’s stay in Barcelona was not completely rosy—he was aggressive, got a 3 match ban twice within a year. He won the league with Milan in 2011, helped AC Milan win the Supercopa Italiana against his former team, Inter Milan, by scoring the first goal in a 2-1 win in the finals, scored another backheel goal against Novara, he then picked up another 3 match ban on the 5th of January 2012 in a match against Napoli. Nevertheless, he finished that season as Serie A top scorer with 28 goals in 32 matches.

Paris Saint-Germain 2012–2016

By July 2012 Ibrahimovic became Paris Saint-Germain player after signing a 3-year deal that made him the 2nd highest paid player in the world after Samuel Eto’o. He went ahead to score his signature backheel goal against Olympique Marseille. On 18 September 2012, he scored during a Champions League game against Dynamo Kyiv. Zlatan Ibrahimovic helped PSG win the Ligue 1 in 2013, ending their 2 long Ligue 1 drought being the top scorer in Ligue 1 that season and was also named player of the season.

On September 24, 2013, it was announced that his contract has been extended to 2016. He went ahead to score yet another back heel goal with a volley this time against Bastia, which was later named Ligue 1 goal of the season. May 2013, PSG won the Ligue 1, he was the top scorer and Ligue 1 best player for the second consecutive season with 26 league goals and 41 in the entire competitions. 

On August 2, 2014, Ibrahimovic scored two goals against Guingamp to help PSG secure the Trophée des Champions, making it the first trophy for the season. On March 11, 2015, he conceded a red card for a foul on Chelsea’s Oscar in a Champions League match which PSG went ahead to qualify on away goals.

Ibrahimovic scored two goals against Marseille to surpass Pauletta and became Paris Saint-Germain all-time leading goal scorer with 110 goals in the entire competitions. On March 9, 2016, he scored a goal against Chelsea FC to make him join the league of players to have scored 50 goals in the Champions League and he’s the 14th one to do so. He scored 4 goals against  Ligue 1 struggling side, Troyes, while scoring a hat-trick by the 9th minute making it the fastest hat-trick in Ligue 1. The third one made his 100th goal in the French Ligue 1 division. That same day, he made it public that he will be leaving the club by the end of the season and joked that he would stay if the Eiffel Tower was replaced with his statue. May 2016 he was named Ligue 1 player of the season for the third consecutive time after netting 32 league goals and scored 6 more league goals after the award.

In his final league game for PSG, he netted twice in the 4-0 win, making his 38 league goals tally surpass Carlos Bianchi 37 goals in one league season. In the tenth minute, the match was paused shortly as fans gave the outgoing legend a standing ovation and also cheered on just before the final whistle bringing his Ligue 1 career in Paris Saint Germain to an end. On May 21 2016, he netted 2 goals against Marseille in a Coupe de France final match, bringing his total tally for Paris Saint Germain to 156 goals, the match ended 4-2 in favour of PSG and he was substituted in the final minutes of the game to a huge standing ovation. 

Manchester United 2016–2018

On July 1, 2016, he moved to Manchester United as a free agent where he signed a one year contract which had extension option depending on performance. He was ascribed the number 9 jersey. He scored the second goal in a win for Manchester United in the community shield final against Leicester city on the 7th of August, picking up his first trophy with Manchester United. One week later he scored a long ranger in his Premier League debut in a 3-1 win against Bournemouth. He scored premier league’s 25,000th goal against Swansea in a 3-1 away win.

On 5th February 2017, he became the oldest player to score at least 15 league goals in a single season at 35 years and 125days old. 13th April he was nominated for PFA player of the year. He got a three-match ban after elbowing Bournemouth’s Tyrone Mings in a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford. 20th April, Zlatan Ibrahimovic picked up a serious ligament injury in the knee of his right foot at Europa quarterfinal match against RSC Anderlecht. The injury put him on the sidelines until the end of the season. Meanwhile, the player told the club not to pay him during the course of the injury. Manchester United went ahead and won the Europa League in a final against Ajax, making it his first major European title, he was named in the UEFA Europa League team of the year.

On 24th of August 2017, Manchester United announced that they had secured Zlatan’s services for another year and also switching from Jersey number 9 to the jersey number 10. 18th November, he secured game time to play for the club after coming on in second half substitution for Anthony Martial in a 4-1 victory over Newcastle United. The week after, he became the first ever footballer to appear for seven clubs in the UEFA Champions League when he came on through a substitution in a 1-0 loss to Basel.

LA Galaxy 2018–2019

On 22nd March, the Premier League team announced that Zlatan Ibrahimovic had assented to the abortion of his contract. The very next day, Zlatan Ibrahimovic signed for Major League Soccer club, Los Angeles Galaxy. In his debut match, he helped his team to a 4-3 with two goals with which one was from 41 meters out. On 15th September, he scored the 500th goal in his professional career for club and country with an acrobatic style.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was selected as the club captain as they prepared for the 2019 season. On the 31st March, he put the ball past the Portland Timbers goalkeeper twice in the match with penalties. The match ended in a 2-1 victory. With the two penalty goals, he attained 515 goals in his career surpassing his fellow Swedish compatriot Gunnar Nordahl to become the leading all-time highest scorer in Swedish football history.

AC Milan (2020–present)

In December 2019, Ibrahimovic moved back to AC Milan for the rest of the season on a 6 months contract free transfer. His move came with an option to extend the next season, 2020-21.

National Team Career 1999–2016

Zlatan’s International career was a long one as well but without a trophy. In the start, he was qualified to play for either Bosnia or his mother’s original country, Croatia, but he decided he wanted Sweden. He was present at the 2002 world cup although his team was eliminated in the round of 16. During a Euro 2004 match, he scored a backheel goal in the 85th minute of a 1-1 draw match against Italy. He was named man of the match and the goal was later named goal of the tournament. His team was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Netherland.

Just before Euro 2012, he was named team captain. In the first match of the tournament, he scored a volley in a 2-0 win against France. He was named man of the match and the goal was named goal of the competition. The team was knocked off the tournament in the group stage despite the win and yet he was named in the team of the tournament even when Sweden got eliminated in the group stage.

On the 14th of November 2012, he netted all the goals in a 4-2 match win against England and the fourth one was from 35yards out with a bicycle kick while facing his own goal. The goal won Puskas 2013 FIFA Puskas Award for the goal of the year. Ibrahimovic netted his 50th national team career goal in a 2-0 friendly match win over Estonia on 4th September 2014, making him the Swedish all-time leading goal scorer. On the 8th of September, Zlatan made his 100th advent for the Swedish national team in a qualification match against Austria. On 21st September, he announced that he had retired from international football immediately after Sweden’s last match at the 2016 Euro.

Zlatan Ibrahimović Wife, Family & Personal Life

Zlatan has 5 siblings in all. His parents divorced when he was young although he lived more with his father.

His wife and long term partner with whom he has two sons is known as Helena Seger. Zlatan’s first son is Maximilian who was born 22 September 2006 and Vincent, born 6 March 2008. His current residence is outside of Los Angeles, though he has a home in his hometown Malmö where he spends some of the summer breaks.

• He has an honorary black belt in Taekwondo, a sport he used to practice in Taekwondo club Enighet as a child, to which it could be said he adapted some of his back heel and aerial style from.
• Zlatan Ibrahimovic is fluent in five languages which include Swedish, English, Spanish, Bosnian and Italian.
• Zlatan Ibrahimovic has stated that he is Catholic in religious practice.
• Muhammad Ali is one of his role models.
• He is an ambassador for the United Nations world food programme.
• He has over 35 million Instagram followers.
• His documentary “becoming Zlatan” was released in February 2016 and equally has a book released in 2013 ” I am Zlatan”.
• He has some tattoos on his body, some of which include the five Buddhist deva faces tantra, the phrase “only God can judge me”

Zlatan Ibrahimović Achievements And Awards

Ibrahimović is known as a well-decorated legend with numerous awards accumulated over a successful career. We list the honours achieved by this great Lion.

• 1x Dutch Cup winner 01/02 Ajax
• 2x Dutch Champion 01/02, 03/04 Ajax
• 2x Dutch Super Cup winner 2002′ 2003 Ajax
• 5x Italian Super Cup winner 06, 07, 08, 09 FC Inter 12, AC Milan
• 4x Italian Champion 07, 08, 09, FC Inter, 11 AC Milan
• 1x Spanish Champion 10 Barcelona
• 2x Spanish Super Cup 10, 11 Barcelona
• 1x FIFA Club World Cup winner 10 Barcelona
• 1x UEFA Super cup winner 10 Barcelona
• 4x French Champion 13, 14′ 15, 16 Paris Saint-Germain
• 2x French Cup winner 15, 16 Paris Saint-Germain
• 3x French League Cup winner 14, 15, 16 Paris Saint Germain
• 1x Europa League winner 17, Manchester United
• 1x English Super Cup winner 17, Manchester United 

Personal Awards

• 13x Footballer of the Year (05, 07, 08, Sweden, 08, 09, Italy 09-16 Sweden)
• 1x Player of the Year (06/07 Serie A) 
• 5x Top Scorer (08/09, 11/12 Serie A, 13-16 Ligue 1)

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Age: 42 Years , 42 Year Old Males

father: Šefik Ibrahimović

mother: Jurka Gravić

children: Maximilian Ibrahimović, Vincent Ibrahimović

Partner: Helena Seger

Born Country: Sweden

Football Players Swedish Men

Height: 6'5" (196 cm ), 6'5" Males

Ancestry: Bosnian Swedish, Croatian Swedish

awards: International Swede of the Year

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Home › Players › Zlatan Ibrahimović

Zlatan Ibrahimović

Z latan Ibrahimović, the Swedish football icon, has left an indelible mark on European football with his successful stints at various prestigious clubs, including Ajax, Juventus, Inter and PSG. Known for his immense talent and charismatic personality, Ibrahimovic has delivered exceptional performances throughout his career.

Basic facts

Birth: 1981 Country: Sweden Position: Striker

Malmö FF (1999–2001) Ajax (2001–2004) Juventus (2004–2006) Inter (2006–2009) Barcelona (2009–2011) Milan (2011–2012) PSG (2012–2016) La Galaxy (2018–2019) Milan (2020–2023)

Club football: 637 matches, 405 goals National team: 122 matches, 62 goals

Early Life     

Zlatan Ibrahimović was born on October 3, 1981, in Malmö, Sweden. Growing up in the Rosengård district, a predominantly immigrant neighborhood, Zlatan faced several challenges concerning his social life. His love for football began to flourish at an early age and he starting his career with local club Malmö FF's youth team. Ibrahimovic would quickly showcase his exceptional talent and was promoted to the senior squad at just 17 years old.

His remarkable performances caught the attention of scouts from across Europe. In 2001, Zlatan joined AFC Ajax and made an immediate impact, helping the Dutch team winning two consecutive Eredivisie titles. His spectacular technical skills on the field earned him a reputation as one of Europe's most promising forwards.

Zlatan Ibrahimović's success in European clubs

After the professional journey began with Ajax Amsterdam in 2001, his extraordinary goal-scoring abilities earned him moves to top-tier clubs such as Juventus , Inter , Barcelona , and Paris Saint-Germain .

During the period in Juventus and Inter (2004-2009), he became a key figure in both club – he would score 16 goals in in his Serie A first season and Juventus would also become champions the same season. In Inter Milan, Zlatan would be part of great success with three consecutive league titles.  

Ibrahimovic then moved to Barcelona where he formed a formidable attacking trio alongside Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto'o. His time in the club would be unpleasant, often on the bench instead for in the string eleven. He was not getting along with the manager Pep Guardiola and would return to Italy, and this time AC Milan, for another two seasons (the first as a loan).

The next adventure would take him to France and Paris. During his time at Paris Saint-Germain, Ibrahimovic reached new heights by winning four consecutive Ligue 1 titles while becoming the club's all-time leading scorer.

The long career would also include an attempt in USA, which lasted two seasons at LA Galaxy, before ending his journey in Italy.

Ibrahimovic's impact on the Swedish national team

Zlatan Ibrahimović, undoubtedly one of Sweden's greatest footballers, has left an indelible mark on the national team. His impact transcends mere statistics and extends into the realm of inspiration and leadership. Ibrahimovic's presence on the pitch instills confidence and a belief in victory among his teammates. With his supreme skills and athleticism, he has single-handedly turned games around for Sweden, most memorable in a game against England on 14 November 2012 in which he score all four goals for Sweden against England’s two.

Ibrahimovic embodies determination, perseverance, and an unwavering passion for the sport. Moreover, Ibrahimovic's influence extends beyond the playing field. He has become an iconic figure who unites the nation through his performances in major tournaments and also a brand outside the field.

Legacy and off-field contributions

Renowned for his unyielding determination and unwavering self-confidence, Ibrahimovic has both inspired countless aspiring athletes worldwide and, likely, provoked some in the process. His unique playing style, characterized by acrobatic goals and audacious skills, has forever etched his name in football folklore.

By Anthony Ingle

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Zlatan Ibrahimović

• Date of birth/Age: Oct 3, 1981 (42)

• Height: 1,95 m
• Position: Centre-Forward

• Caps/Goals: 122 / 62

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic

• Birthdate 10/3/1981
• Birthplace Malmo, Sweden
• Nationality Sweden

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The man who gave everything: Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s life and legacy at AC Milan

Sunday June 4 is a day that many AC Milan fans will remember forever. It is the date that signalled the end of the 2022-23 season, but this was overshadowed by the farewell of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, one of the greatest footballers of all time.

It was a very emotional night that ended with the entire San Siro and the footballing world in general shedding tears. Zlatan himself could not hold it in and showcased a side of him not many have seen before as he loves to always be perceived as an ‘arrogant’ person.

The love for the game and for the red and black colours even got the better of him as he got emotional in the middle of the pitch. With the Swedish legend ending his career, it is only right to look back at everything he did for Milan.

Ibrahimovic has had two stints with the Rossoneri, first joining in the summer of 2010 and then in January 2020, just before the pandemic. He arrived in two very different situations.

The first spell

Back in August 2010, Ibrahimovic was signed initially on a loan deal after having a somewhat negative stint at Barcelona. He came back with the hunger to prove everyone once again of how great he was.

He joined a Milan side that were also coming off a disappointing campaign in which Inter won the treble. That Milan side had veterans like Pirlo, Seedorf, Nesta, Gattuso, Ambrosini and more. Ibra also joined at the peak of his powers during his ‘prime’ years.

Zlatan was unveiled during the opening Serie A game of the season, in which the Rossoneri won 4-0 against Lecce. During the unveiling, he famously stated that they will win everything, something that got the Milan fanbase excited after two disappointing seasons.

He made his official debut the game week after on the 11 September away at Siena, although this did not go as everyone planned as Milan went onto losing this game 2-0 and Zlatan missed a penalty.

Lots of players could have easily lost confidence if something like this happened on their debut but Ibrahimovic is not like other players. As Galliani once said: “Milan had 8 Ballon d’Or winners but nobody had the mental strength of Zlatan.”

It was that strong mentality got him to move on from that mistake very quick and he bounced back four days later as he scored a brace on his home debut in the opening Champions League game versus AJ Auxerre.

Following that brace, Ibrahimovic quickly became a fan favourite despite previously playing for both Inter and Juventus, as he made Milanisti love him with his goals and skills.

If that was not enough, on matchday 12 he won the hearts of every Milan fan when he won the derby by scoring the winner against Inter and then famously silencing the Inter Curva. At that moment, for many fans, Zlatan became one of our own.

He finished the first half of the season with 16 goal contributions in the league which gave Milan a boost to potentially win their first league title since the 2003-04 campaign.

He also contributed with four goals in the Champions League group stage which helped AC Milan qualify for the knockout round behind Real Madrid.

The second part of the season started off strongly too, with Zlatan contributing to another 10 goals in the league up until game week 29, which helped the Diavolo get closer to the title.

Among these goals, there was that famous strike away at Lecce where Ibra decided to take on a lob 40+ yards out. The result was one of the most iconic goals in calcio history.

Zlatan got two-match ban for punching a Bari player in the stomach, resulting in him missing the return leg of the Derby which Milan still won 3-0, and then he got another three-match ban for swearing at the assistant referee during a game vs Fiorentina.

Despite all this, his 14 goals and 12 assists in 29 Serie A games was crucial to clinch the 18th Scudetto in the club’s history which Ibrahimovic celebrated in typical style, by fly kicking Cassano’s head during the celebration away at Roma the day the triumph was confirmed.

His first year at Milan was all in all a success, he delivered what he said at the start of the season, brought back new energy into the club and reminded the entire world again who Zlatan Ibrahimovic is.

Following that successful first season, Milan decided to make his loan move permanent from Barcelona, signing him for €24m.

The Swede started the 2011-12 campaign in the same fashion, by winning the Supercoppa in early August against Inter. He contributed to that game by scoring the equaliser, moments before Kevin-Prince Boateng scored the winning goal.

Ibra took the entire team under his wing during his second season, finishing as the Capocannoniere (top scorer) of the division with 28 goals – his highest ever tally in a Serie A season – along with 8 assists.

This unfortunately was not enough for Milan to retain the title which was won by Juventus in a controversial way, with everyone knowing the infamous story of ‘the Muntari goal’.

He also once again got into some disciplinary mess during this season as he got sent off for slapping a Napoli player, resulting in another three-match ban. It was a sign of his irrepressible character and competitive spirit, which sometimes spilled over.

Zlatan finished the campaign with 35 goals and 12 assists in all competitions, making him one of the best players in the world as he finished in the top 10 in the Ballon D’or that year. However, Nobody could have predicted what was going to happen at the end of the 2011-12 campaign.

With many leaders leaving AC Milan that year, it was expected for Ibra and Thiago Silva to be the new leaders for the next decade. This was meant to be the case until Galliani and Berslusconi decided to sell both PSG.

It is understood this happened against the will of Zlatan who in 2018 revealed that Milan had approved his sale without letting him know as he found out through Mino Raiola.

“I said to Mino: ‘Listen, I’m not to talk to Leonardo because Galliani told me that I wouldn’t be sold this summer’. Then Mino said ‘Yeah, I know, but you’ve been sold already’,” the Swede revealed.

Ibra departed for the French capital in strange circumstances , and his time at Milan came to an end. Zlatan went onto conquer France while Milan fell into a dark era in which the owners lost the hunger to win and the club lots its identity.

The in-between

Ibrahimovic spent four seasons in France, winning 12 trophies in which four were league titles, becoming the club’s top scorer of all time at the time and putting PSG onto the map as he helped them in their goal to become a European heavyweight.

During his time at PSG, Zlatan also scored that famous bicycle kick against England which won him that year’s Puskas award (2013).

After his spell in the French capital, Ibra decided to move to England on a free where he joined Manchester United and carried on winning more trophies, ending his first season with an odd treble as he lifted the Europa League, the EFL Cup and the Community Shield.

During his second season at the English club, he suffered a serious knee injury which resulted in him being out for the remainder of the season and thus ending his time with the Red Devils.

Following this injury, many reporters said that there was a chance the striker was never going to play football again, but his determination and strong mentality once proved everyone wrong as he signed for LA Galaxy in the MLS. Then, he carried on scoring goals like he always did, reaching goal number 500.

The grand return

In 2020, Ibrahimovic came back to Europe from the MLS, something many thought was not going to happen. His decision was to go back to Milan, a broken team that lost its identity from the last time he was last there, but full of talented youngsters who struggled to fulfil their potential.

The Malmo-born forward come into a massive mess following the 5-0 loss away at Atalanta with the side sitting 11th in the league. He was aware of what he was getting himself into and what would be required of him, famously rejecting a €100m-a-year offer from China to return to the Rossoneri.

Even for someone like Ibra, reviving this Milan team at the time seemed an impossible job, yet he once again set about proving all the doubters wrong.

Along with Maldini and Pioli, Ibra accepted the responsibilities and unlike his last time here, he came in as the veteran ready to mentor the young Milan team. In a way it can be said what was planned for him after the 2011-12 season to do, he finally got to do that eight years later.

Ibrahimovic made his second debut on the January 6 coming off the bench in a goalless draw vs Sampdoria. He then got his first goal of his second spell five days later away at Cagliari, in a 2-0 win. This goal also made him the first player to score in four different decades, with his first goal coming in 1999.

With Zlatan back, the Milan team started to pick up some results and some of the youngsters started to show their quality with the added confidence. This was however halted due to the pandemic that happened in March 2020, which put not only football but life in general on hold.

During the pandemic, Ibra’s career once again looked to be over as initially it was stated he had an Achilles injury, but then more updates emerged stating that it was just a calf issue, and that the Swede would be back to end the season with the club.

That is exactly what happened and with Zlatan leading the line, Milan finished the season on a high, beating the likes of Juventus and Lazio and securing European football by finishing sixth, a big jump from where they were before Ibra come in.

The then-38-year-old finished the season with 10 goals and five assists in 18 games, but it was his leadership that made the real difference. He transformed the young Milan team and made them go on their best run of games in years.

The promise

At the of the 2019-20 season, Ibrahimovic famously said: “I’m sorry I came halfway through the season, If I was here from day one we’d have won the Scudetto.”

Ibrahimovic’s big impact resulted him in getting a contract extension for the following season and he started it well, scoring a brace in the first game at home against Bologna before testing positive for Covid, which resulted in him missing the next two league games.

Upon his return, Zlatan went into a very hot run of form, scoring eight goals in the next five games which included braces against Roma, Napoli and in the derby win against Inter, as well as an overhead kick goal in typical Zlatan style vs. Udinese. He was unstoppable.

Unfortunately, during the game against Napoli, Ibrahimovic sustained a serious injury which kept him out of the pitch for a lengthy period. Despite this, the Milan team looked to be different as they carried on getting results even without their leader.

All of a sudden this previously young, naive and timid bunch were fighting for the Scudetto, something nobody would have predicted at the start of the season, showing how a mentality of belief was imparted on the squad.

Upon returning from his injury, Ibrahimovic had an iconic moment in the Coppa Italia game against Inter. He and former team-mate Romelu Lukaku almost got into a physical altercation after things were said . This resulted in both getting a booking with Ibrahimovic getting sent off during the second half for a foul he committed.

Ibrahimovic scored in that game but unfortunately it was not enough as the Rossoneri bowed out of the Coppa Italia after losing 2-1, with Christian Eriksen’s late free-kick the winner.

After that game, Ibra kept on battling back and forth with injuries, getting four more league goals in the process, and ending the season with 15 goals and two assists in 19 games, enough to get Milan back in the Champions League after almost a decade.

Zlatan’s influence on the entire club was visible through results. This however was not enough as he wanted to win the scudetto again as he promised the fans upon his arrival.

The next season started very slow for him as he was dealing with multiple injuries but at this point the young cubs Zlatan inherited started to take more responsibilities.

Despite not playing much during the 2021-22 season, Ibrahimovic still contributed to some very important moments during Milan’s historic title win.

The equaliser against Udinese on the dying minutes, the free-kick against Genoa and the assist to Sandro Tonali against Lazio were all moments that played a big part in the league triumph, with the latter being the point that from many was what made the difference in the end.

Zlatan delivered what he promised when he came back in 2020. He ended the campaign with eight goals and three assists in 1,000 minutes despite all the injury issues he suffered during the season.

Upon winning the title, he famously made the speech in the changing room after the Sassuolo game: “Milano is not Milan, Italia is Milan”. Even to this day, that still brings fans goosebumps.

Following the title-winning season, Zlatan declared that he was not going to retire as he still felt he had something left to give. He had a major operation on his knee with the goal of returning to the field the season after.

Unfortunately, during the 2022-23 season, this did not happen much as he only played 144 minutes but somehow still scored a a record-breaking goal against Udinese (a favoured foe), becoming the oldest ever scorer in a Milan shirt

Ibrahimovic was then injured for the remainder of the season but did not tell anyone about his decision regarding his future until the day of his goodbye after the final game of the season, when he stated that it was time for him to hang up his boots.

He has done so much for this club, this sport and for many people. He revived the Rossoneri twice, both times in different situations. He saved Milan from a difficult era with his leadership and charisma, cementing himself in folklore.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a true legend of the game, someone who has been misunderstood by many during his career but someone whose ability can never be questioned. A lion with a huge heart, even bigger than his talent and trophy cabinet. There will never be another like him.

Unbelievable player. He gave us so many moments that’ll go down in the club’s history. I just hope he returns soon.

Amazing character, above all. I’d love to see him in some ‘public relations’ role between the team and the board, for example, a sort of ‘spokesperson’.

Really nice post, thanks guys! It reminded me how much we are going to miss this Titan

I love this guy! So many of my friends don’t understand how at Milan we love him. I honestly think people forget that beside the character and the quotes, that this guy is a really really really talented footballer first!!! It’s going to be so strange where there is football without ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC!! What a man, what a player and what a career! Thanks for this post guys. My kids will definitely know about this guy! Forza Milan Forres Ibra❤️

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How a difficult childhood helped create Zlatan Ibrahimovic the soccer god

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There’s a story from Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s childhood that goes a long way toward explaining how a skinny, awkward boy would go on to become one of the best soccer players of his generation.

Ibrahimovic grew up poor, one of five children living in a dangerous housing project in the center of Malmo, Sweden’s third-largest city. He spoke with a lisp, was self-conscious about his big nose and admits he went to school mainly for the free lunches.

When the school hired a special teacher to work with him, the added humiliation was more than he could bear.

So when the woman came out to watch him play soccer one afternoon, Ibrahimovic lined a long-distance shot off her head. A few days later the teacher quit and a lesson was learned: The world can be a cold, cruel place, but with a soccer ball at his feet, Ibrahimovic could make that world bend to his will.

“I wanted to stand up to the whole world and show everybody who’d doubted me who I really was,” he wrote in his autobiography “I Am Zlatan.”

“And I couldn’t imagine anyone who’d be able to stop me.”

Few have managed that in the more than two decades since, with Ibrahimovic introducing himself to Major League Soccer last week by hobbling off the Galaxy bench to score the game-tying goal on a jaw-dropping 40-yard strike, then knock in the winner on a stoppage-time header, capping the greatest comeback in league history.

It would have been an improbable performance if he hadn’t done it before, scoring in his debut with four other teams. In 20 seasons he’s won 33 championships, including 11 titles in four of Europe’s top leagues, earning tens of millions of dollars along the way.

Yet he’s still trying to win over the doubters and daring people to try to stop him.

I always tried to play it cocky like that. It’s something that had stayed with me since I was little. You couldn’t show any weakness.

— Zlatan Ibrahimovic

“A lot of players, you sometimes see when they’ve been successful is that you’ve had rejection,” said Warren Barton, a former English Premier League defender and England international who is now a soccer analyst for Fox Sports. “Some of that is motivation for Zlatan. He [takes] that personally and [creates] the image that he has for himself.

“Those types of things in life when you’re younger, you use it as incentive to drive you on.”

Ibrahimovic, who will suit up for his second game with the Galaxy on Sunday, clearly remains driven. And at 36, less than a year removed from a knee injury that would have ended many careers, he continues to defy convention as well.

Having conquered most of Europe, he came here to conqueror the colonies. Having made his millions on the continent, he reportedly turned down a $100 million offer from an unidentified Chinese team for a two-year, $3-million deal with the Galaxy.

And to make sure no one questioned his commitment, he came to Southern California with his longtime partner Helena Seger, a businesswoman 11 years his senior, and the couple’s two sons, 11-year-old Max and 10-year-old Vincent. Even the family’s dog, a brown-and-white bulldog named Trustor, had its own seat on the Bombardier corporate jet for the 10-hour flight from England.

“I’m not here only for one game. I’m here for the season,” said Ibrahimovic, who took questions at his introductory press conference in English, Spanish, Swedish and Italian.

“I know what I need to do to perform. I’ve played 700, 800 games. I have almost 500 goals. I have more goals than players have games. I think I know what I’m doing. I just have to keep doing it.”

Ibrahimovic was born in Sweden to immigrant parents from the former Yugoslavia. His mother was a cleaning lady and his father a property caretaker who divorced before Ibrahimovic’s second birthday. As a result the boy and his siblings moved frequently between their parents’ tiny apartments, rarely spending more than a year in one place.

When a bloody civil war broke out back home, Ibrahimovic’s father Sefik became increasingly withdrawn, spending most nights drinking and listening to music from his broken homeland. The refrigerator often contained nothing but beer, leaving the children to fend for themselves. Social services intervened more than once.

Ibrahimovic has given few revealing interviews, but he discusses his childhood openly and at length in his autobiography.

“My dad was never there,” Ibrahimovic said. “I looked after myself. Maybe it did hurt. I can’t really tell.”

If he hadn’t found soccer, Ibrahimovic said, he may have wound up in prison. As a boy he was a talented thief, learning how to pick locks and steal bikes. He once unknowingly stole a mailman’s delivery bike, pinching the neighborhood’s letters and packages in the process. Another time he made off with his coach’s bicycle from outside his team’s locker room.

“I got a kick out of swiping stuff,” he said.

What Ibrahimovic really craved, though, was the recognition and respect he found on the dusty playing fields of the infamous Rosengard projects where he grew up. The area was a mix of Bosnians, Serbs, Somalis, Turks and Poles — immigrants who, like Ibrahimovic, were living on the edge of society and never felt they fit in.

You can’t do something brilliant unless you dare to be brilliant. Ibrahimovic is a perfect definition of a guy who always dares to be brilliant.

— Galaxy coach Sigi Schmid

The soccer pitch became their proving ground, with the raucous games extending long into the night. And just as on the inner-city basketball courts of Brooklyn, Philadelphia and Chicago, winning wasn’t enough. You had to play with style and panache. Tricks and moves were often more important than goals; that was how you got noticed.

So Ibrahimovic copied flashy Brazilian players such as Romario and his idol, the incomparable Ronaldo, and began to sleep with a soccer ball tucked next to his pillow.

That showmanship has come to define his career, but as he slowly climbed the ranks of youth soccer in Sweden, it clashed with the prevailing team-first concept. As a result he was sent home by coaches more than once, while on other occasions his teammates’ parents drafted petitions demanding he be kicked out of the club.

None of that worked; Ibrahimovic was simply too good. And that led to another trait that has followed him throughout his career: Each time his skill or value was questioned, he would respond with an over-the-top boast, then go out on the field and back it up.

“I always tried to play it cocky like that,” he said. “It’s something that had stayed with me since I was little. You couldn’t show any weakness.”

Not surprisingly, his other sporting idol was Muhammad Ali.

“When you experience moments where people have doubted you or people have made fun of you or been mean to you, you go different ways,” said Alexi Lalas, a former World Cup star and Galaxy general manager. “You build up an arsenal of wanting to prove others wrong, but also prove to yourself that that’s not who you are.

“He knows what he is and what he can do. And he feels a responsibility to live up to it.”

The bravado and hype are all part of that. He has trademarked his first name, repeatedly compared himself to God, and after Sweden failed to qualify for the last World Cup, Ibrahimovic deflected his disappointment by saying the tournament wouldn’t be worth watching if he wasn’t playing.

“I can’t help but laugh,” he once said, “at how perfect I am.”

Yet for all the bravado in public, in the Galaxy dressing room, where he has moved into Landon Donovan’s old corner locker, Ibrahimovic has quietly fit in.

“He’s a great guy,” midfielder Baggio Husidic said. “Within the group he’s a jokester. He’s really welcoming to the young guys and interacts with the academy kids that come up.

“It still hasn’t hit us that he’s here. I catch myself. I look up, I go, ‘Oh, Zlatan’s in our locker room.’ It’s pretty crazy.”

Yet his braggadocio has served a purpose other than just grabbing headlines. Although the boasts are made playfully, they often raise the bar of expectations, forcing Ibrahimovic to work harder and climb higher to get over it.

“There’s a gleam in his eye and an understanding of the character that he plays, the personality that he is,” Lalas said. “That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not genuine and authentic. But he does understand how to manipulate and use it to his advantage. And then the most important part of the entire equation is he understands that he has the innate ability to live up to it and provide those moments as opposed to just talking about them.”

Added Barton: “Probably only him and [Cristiano] Ronaldo can back it up. They talk the talk.”

They also walk the walk.

So 24 hours after his first Galaxy press conference, in which he fielded multiple questions about whether he was too old and too lame to help the team, Ibrahimovic stepped on to the StubHub Center field as a second-half substitute and quickly put his stamp on a game many are calling the most memorable in MLS history.

Within minutes the highlights flashed on mobile phones, computer screens and televisions around the world, further cementing the legend.

In Singapore a U.S. sailor named Francisco Gomez stepped into a karaoke bar wearing a dark blue Galaxy t-shirt and was approached by a stranger who whispered just one word: “Ibrahimovic.” In Mexico, a Canadian tourist and MLS official named Sean Dennison watched alone as the goals played over and over again on a silent TV.

In London, Chelsea supporters crowded onto a train car gasped in wonder at a YouTube video, while in Saudi Arabia an Ibrahimovic fan named Muhammed retweeted the goals six times.

And in Sweden a former teacher, perhaps still nursing a head wound, might have watched in wonder as well.

“You can’t do something brilliant unless you dare to be brilliant,” Galaxy coach Sigi Schmid said. “Ibrahimovic is a perfect definition of a guy who always dares to be brilliant. And if you do that, you pull off some things.”

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Follow Kevin Baxter on Twitter @kbaxter11

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Kevin Baxter writes about soccer and hockey for the Los Angeles Times. He has covered seven World Cups, four Olympic Games, six World Series and a Super Bowl and has contributed to three Pulitzer Prize-winning series at The Times and Miami Herald. An essay he wrote in fifth grade was voted best in the class. He has a cool dog.

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• Football Transfer News

Zlatan Ibrahimovic turns 40: The 10 best moments of his career

• 3 Oct 2021 12:44 BST

This Sunday, October 3rd, is Zlatan Ibrahimovic ’s birthday, with the Swedish striker turning 40 years of age. Even though injuries have limited him to just half an hour of playing time in 2021/22, the striker was so impactful with his 17 goals for AC Milan last season that it would be foolish to doubt him in his battle with Father Time.

REVEALED: The most valuable players in the world

Over the years, Ibrahimovic has achieved so much and produced so many incredible moments. Here comes a look at 10 of his greatest successes and you can vote in our poll for which you think stands out above the rest.

The first titles

The first trophies of Ibrahimovic’s incredible career came in the Netherlands in 2001/02, as his Ajax side won the league and cup double. After topping the Eredivisie table, Ibrahimovic was the hero in the 2002 KNVB Cup final against Utrecht, netting the golden goal in extra time.

His incredible Champions League debut

Winning the Eredivisie saw Ajax take part in the 2002/03 Champions League and the young forward immediately made his presence felt by scoring both goals in a 2-1 victory over Lyon in the Dutch side’s opening group game. This was the moment that many European football fans first heard about the player who’d go on to score 48 Champions League goals.

⚪️🔴⚪️ Zlatan Ibrahimovic began his European adventure in style #OTD in 2002, scoring twice for Ajax on his Champions League debut... This goal = 🤤 @Ibra_official | @AFCAjax | #UCL pic.twitter.com/At7VQLUE5I — UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) September 17, 2021

The final day brace at Parma

It was in Italy that Ibrahimovic spent most of his peak years and he won the Serie A title six times – even if the two with Juventus were later revoked due to the Calciopoli scandal. Of all those triumphs, the most memorable moment came on the final day of the 2007/08 season, when the forward came off the bench to score both goals for a 2-0 win at Parma that secured the Scudetto.

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His first capocannoniere.

The Capocannoniere is the award for the top scorer in a single Serie A season and it is one of the most prestigious prizes in the sport, with past winners including Giuseppe Meazza, Gunnar Nordahl, Michel Platini and Diego Maradona. Ibrahimovic finished top of Italy’s scoring charts twice, first doing so with 25 goals in 2008/09 and then with 28 in 2011/12.

A winner in El Clásico

His spell with Barcelona wasn’t the happiest period of his career, but Ibrahimovic still managed to win a LaLiga title while in Spain and he was a big part of that triumph, especially because he scored the only goal in Barça’s 1-0 Clásico win against Real Madrid in November of that 2009/10 season. With the Catalan side only winning the title by three points over Los Blancos, that goal proved crucial.

His Puskas Award goal against Joe Hart

So many jaw-dropping goals have been scored during Ibrahimovic’s career, but one of the very best was surely the overhead kick from distance over Joe Hart. It may only have been a friendly match, but this was one of the most memorable nights of the forward’s career as he scored all four goals in Sweden’s 4-2 victory, with the stunning acrobatic effort winning that year’s Puskas Award.

Last time @ibra_official faced Joe Hart... #DareToZlatan #UCL https://t.co/XYEoOtvCU3 — B/R Football (@brfootball) April 6, 2016

The PSG all-time top scorer record

Ibrahimovic left PSG with 156 goals in 180 appearances, making him the all-time top scorer for the French club at the time. In October of 2015, in a match against Marseille, the Swede’s goals moved him ahead of Pauleta’s mark of 109, a special moment for the star forward. Since departing the French capital, Edinson Cavani then broke Ibrahimovic’s record, but the Lion’s goals will never be forgotten at the Parc des Princes.

Proving he could do it in England

For a large part of his career, there were still some Ibrahimovic doubters who wondered is he’d be able to cut it in the Premier League. By joining Manchester United in 2016, he had the chance to show that he could do it on wet and windy nights in Stoke. He headed in the winner on his debut, the 2-1 2016 Community Shield triumph over Leicester, and then left Old Trafford with 29 goals from 53 appearances.

The incredible LA Galaxy debut

When the Swede debuted for LA Galaxy in 2018, he didn’t mess about. After netting a long-range volleyed equaliser in the derby against LAFC, Ibrahimovic then went on to produce a stoppage time winner for his new club to let the USA know he’d arrived.

🗣 @stuholden : "LAFC have just been Zlatan'd" 💥 Who could forget @Ibra_official 's LA Galaxy debut? #OnThisDay | @MLS pic.twitter.com/ViF8gKisR6 — FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) March 31, 2020

Returning AC Milan to the Champions League

Ibrahimovic’s most recent achievement was an important one, as his 15 goals and two assists in the 2020/21 Serie A season helped AC Milan secure a second place finish after seven long seasons without any Champions League football. Now, the Rossoneri are back in Europe’s elite club competition and the significance of this cannot be understated.

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Zlatan Ibrahimović

Position: FW ▪  Footed: Right

195cm ,  94kg  (6-5, 209lb)

Born: October 3, 1981 in Malmö, Sweden se

National Team:   Sweden se

Twitter: @Ibra_official

Instagram: @iamzlatanibrahimovic

• 3x Ligue 1 Male Player of the Year
• 13x Domestic League Champion
• 2015-16 Coupe de la Ligue Champion
• 2013 FIFA FIFPro World XI
• 4x UEFA Team of the Year
• 12x Swedish Golden Ball

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