The great Zlatan Ibrahimovic stands in the center circle and fights back tears. 70,000 fans cheer, clap and cry at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium in Milan. Then the exceptional striker takes the microphone and says: “The moment has come to say ciao to football.” The set seems harder for him than most of his many, many goals. On the lap of honor in black trousers and a black shirt, the 41-year-old Swede repeatedly bites his lip and forms a heart with his fingers. After more than two decades – most of it world class – Ibrahimovic ended his active career late Sunday evening. “Today was my last day as a professional footballer,” he said. Due to an injury, he could no longer stand on the pitch himself, but watched his AC Milan as a guest of honor from the outside in the 3-1 win over Hellas Verona on the final Serie A matchday. After the final whistle, the teammates stood guard and accompanied Ibrahimovic after the short speech on the last lap of the stadium.
Farewell to Zlatan Ibrahimovic
The “Gazzetta dello Sport” reported on Monday’s front page about the “king’s farewell”. The Milan fans had already said goodbye to Ibrahimovic before the Verona game kicked off in their own choreography with the reverential play on words “Godbye”. In Sweden, awe and warmth prevailed the morning after. Leading football expert Erik Niva called Ibrahimovic “the greatest footballer we’ve ever had, the greatest Swede of this millennium”. In the Aftonbladet newspaper, he wrote: “Zlatan Ibrahimovic influenced an entire nation.” And there were few footballers who were as confident as Ibrahimovic. “I just have to laugh at how perfect I am,” he once said. He only lost his cool last week when he decided to retire from the professional game. He didn’t reveal this to anyone, not even his wife Helena and their two sons. In the hours before the game on Sunday evening, he walked around “like a zombie”, “there were just too many emotions,” he said. “It’s been a long career. I’m proud and happy.”
More than 500 goals in almost 1000 games
In almost 1000 professional games for nine clubs in seven countries on two continents, the statisticians count more than 500 goals. Among other things, Ibrahimovic became champions in Italy (Inter, Milan), Spain (Barcelona), France (Paris Saint-Germain) and the Netherlands (Ajax), won the Europa League with Manchester United and the European Supercup and the Club World Cup with Barcelona .
The son of Yugoslav immigrants grew up in Malmö’s problem district of Rosengård and learned to play football at Malmö FF. From there he went to Amsterdam, then to Juventus Turin and out into the wide world, to the USA to the Los Angeles Galaxy. “I came, saw and conquered,” he said in the style of a commander as he left California. In 2012, the exceptional striker even got his own word in the Swedish dictionary – zlatanieren as an expression for dominating strongly.
But it is also true that Ibrahimovic was denied the greatest triumphs. He didn’t win the Champions League with any of his top clubs, nor a title with the national team. “If you had only played once for @FCBayern… Then you would have won the Champions League once,” wrote Bastian Schweinsteiger on social media on Monday, alongside two smileys. They were briefly teammates at Man United.
Watch the video: At the age of 41 – football star Zlatan Ibrahimović ends his career.
Brilliant overhead kick goal
In addition to his sayings, it was above all individual moments on the pitch that will remain unforgotten: in 2012, for example, in an international match against England, he scored an overhead kick goal from far outside the penalty area. With an artistic hit with a heel, he shocked Italy at the EM 2004, who were eliminated in the group phase. “He’s by far the best player we’ve had in this country,” national team coach Janne Andersson told Swedish broadcaster SVT on Monday. Now the old master wants to rest and “enjoy the summer”, as he announced. When asked whether he could imagine a future in football, for example as a coach, he replied late on Sunday evening that this job was associated with great responsibility and less freedom. “I can’t come to training with the Ferrari as a coach,” he said with a smile. “Although… Ibra might be able to do that too.”