Born to a Bosnian father and a Croatian mother, Zlatan Ibrahimovic married a Swedish model and currently lives in Paris. He is the coolest, and most prolific, journeyman in European football.
Whilst the English media have spent the past five years spluttering the word ‘erratic’ in the Swede’s general direction, Zlatan has been lifting trophies and banging in goals, across the continent.
Here are five reasons (I could have written 50) to love the great big Swedish genius.
Goals
Rarely has a lunch-break been better spent than by typing Zlatan Ibrahimovic great goals into YouTube.
Last night’s outrageous bicycle kick over Joe Hart, was the latest in a series of astonishing strikes from the Swedish number ten.
But not only is Zlatan a scorer of great goals, he is a great scorer of goals too.
In 504 career club games, Mr Ibrahimovic has notched 246 goals. Even his ‘disappointing’ Barcelona experiment saw him find the net 22 times in 46 games.
Whether playing in Amsterdam or Milan, as a target man or with a nimble strike-partner, in the Champions League or on the International stage: Zlatan Ibrahimovic guarantees goals.
And what’s not to love about that?
Quotes
In the modern era, where footballers are media trained to churn out, “it’s all about the team” post-match drivel, Zlatan Ibrahimovic offers something refreshingly different.
“Zlatan doesn’t do auditions”, was the Swede’s reaction to Arsene Wenger’s offer of a trial at the North-London club in 2001.
On arriving in Paris over the summer, Zlatan said: “It’s true I don’t know that much about the players here in Ligue 1, but they definitely know who I am.”
Perhaps the pick of the bunch came whilst referring to former Valencia striker John Carew, as Zlatan boasted, “what he can do with a ball, I can do with an orange”.
Poetic, cheeky and at times flat-out rude, Zlatan has a collection of quotes that could challenge Mohammed Ali for arrogant yet tongue-in-cheek comedy.
Trophies
For eight straight seasons (2004-2011) Zlatan’s team finished top of their respective league.
Five European superpowers in three separate countries have enjoyed his presence, despite the fact Inter Milan’s trophies were later revoked.
This trend was broken when Juventus lifted the Serie ‘A’ title last season, denying Zlatan’s AC Milan. But the Swede’s clockwork, trophy-machine service looks set to resume this season with top of the table Paris Saint-Germain.
At just 31 years old, you wouldn’t best against Zlatan nipping on the Eurostar to lift the English Premiership before he hangs up his colossal footballing boots.
Controversy
Quite a large chunk of Zlatan’s appeal comes from the controversy that surrounds him.
A confusing rebel and often amusing maverick, Zlatan is never too far away from the headlines on both sides of the newspapers.
He once blasted Barcelona demi-God Pep Guardiola for having ‘no balls’ and accused arguably the greatest player to have kicked a football, Leo Messi, of being too obedient.
A black belt in taekwondo, Zlatan was once involved in a training ground bust-up with Roy Keane-baiting Patrick Viera at Juventus.
His book.
The majority of footballer’s autobiographies are light holiday-reads, sanitised to avoid offending fellow professionals, referees and managers.
But Zlatan has never been part of the majority, and his autobiography, “I am Zlatan” is a break from the norm.
Full of unique and genuinely interesting anecdotes and opinions, this is a paperback like no other.
The book has been shortlisted for the Swedish literary award and has already sold over half a million copies in his native country.
With Christmas approaching and distant aunties sending a fresh pair of socks in your direction, nudge your relatives into the path of this little beauty. You wont be disappointed.
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