Jaw-dropping goals, trophies and misbehaviour made him a superstar, competitiveness and drive made him a role modelIt is September 2003 and Sweden have just been awarded a second penalty against San Marino in a European Championship qualifier. The team’s designated penalty taker, Kim Källström, has dispatched the first and expects to take this one too.However a 21‑year‑old Zlatan Ibrahimovic has other ideas. He is the player who has been fouled and grabs the ball to take the spot-kick. He scores to make it 5-0 but no one is in a mood to celebrate with him. He has disobeyed orders and, even worse, has put himself above the team. Continue reading...
Napoli and Sassuolo’s six-goal thriller upstaged the Milan star’s guest appearance at the Sanremo Music FestivalZlatan Ibrahimovic took some time off from co-hosting the Sanremo Music Festival to watch Milan draw with Udinese on Wednesday. After weeks of anguished speculation about how his involvement in the event might impact his team’s title push, the Swede had picked up a thigh injury that ruled him out of this game regardless. Related: 'This is why we kneel': Van Aanholt reveals racist abuse over miss Zlatan Ibrahimovic makes his big entrance at Sanremo... “Good evening, Italy. It’s an honour to be here, but it’s also a great honour for you to have me here.”️️ @TheMilanGuyspic.twitter.com/H3Q3WTj15c Related: Gianluigi Buffon: 'It’s important to get things...
The biggest compliment you can pay the veteran Milan striker is that sometimes he is almost as good as he says he isZlatan Ibrahimovic believes you should stick to what you’re good at, which is presumably why he’s been talking about himself again. The Milan striker is probably unique among elite modern footballers in that despite his considerable body of work on the pitch, the most memorable episodes of his career have emanated largely from his own mouth. Perhaps the warmest compliment you can pay Ibrahimovic as a footballer is that there are times when he is genuinely almost as good as he says he is. Related: 'I will never shut up': LeBron James responds to Ibrahimovic criticism Related: Zlatan's...
The Swede brushed aside questions about his age and fitness with his trademark self-confidence on his first day with the MLS clubAs with all new recruits at LA Galaxy, Zlatan Ibrahimovic was greeted to the ‘Tunnel of Death’ indoctrination when he first stepped onto the StubHub Center training field on Friday morning.Ibrahimovic’s team-mates formed a passageway and took turns slapping his back, as the 36-year-old ran the gauntlet. Perhaps some will have needed the bravery of the ‘lion’ to strike the 6ft 5in frontman, yet he was all smiles afterwards. Related: Why Zlatan's move to LA Galaxy is bad for Major League Soccer Continue reading...
Ageing striker’s long-awaited move to US is done, but the entire enterprise feels like an unwelcome throwback for MLSIt had become the worst kept secret in soccer. This was a transfer that followed the usual course of conjecture: there was a public courting, months of tabloid speculation and, of course, stories of the player concerned hunting for a new home in the local area, the mark of any mega move played out through the press. Finally, on Thursday, it became apparent that Zlatan Ibrahimovic was set to become an LA Galaxy player, with the Swede’s contract at Manchester United terminated. On Friday, it became official.Ibrahimovic makes ripples wherever he goes, such is his nature, and it will be no different...