Zlatan Ibrahimovic's records have come while dividing
opinions in the footballing world along the way. Inspite of
being infamous for his arrogance, Ibrahimovic is arguably
one of the finest strikers in the footballing world. The Swede
has impressed wherever he has decided to ply his trade,
winning 11 League titles along his career across various
clubs. Zlatan has also relived his magic in Sweden colours.
The Malmo-born striker is currently the captain of the
Blagult team, and many a time has singlehandedly turned
around games for his country with his skills.
Footballing Great or Arrogant Prima-donna?
Ibrahimovic was born in Malmo, Sweden on 3rd October,
1981 to a Bosniak father and a Crotian mother. At the age
of six, Zlatan was given his first pair of football boots, and
fell in love with the game. Born in a poverty-stricken home,
financial hardships was almost about to rob football of one
of its finest talents. In 1996, at the age of 15, he considered
quitting football due to his family's financial problems and
wanted to join the local dock at Malmo as a labourer. But
his Malmo Youth club manager persuaded the teenage Ibra
to not let his hardships decide his footballing fate.
Thankfully Ibrahimovic agreed to pursue football, or else the
beautiful game wouldn't have witnessed Zlatan magic.
Ibrahimovic was promoted to the Malmo senior side in 1999
and started to impress. In his three seasons at the Swedish
club, he netted 16 goals in 40 outings. His performances in
the Swedish League grabbed the attention of several
European heavyweights. In 2001, Arsene Wenger tried his
best to sign this promising youngster for Arsenal.
According to an oft-repeated story, Wenger had even
handed the number 9 jersey to the towering Swede. When
asked by Wenger to attend a training session with the senior
players, a 19-year-old Ibra refused to do training, claiming
that 'Zlatan doesn't do training'. Glimpses of his attitude
was evident even at that early age. But Dutch giants Ajax
agreed to sign the striker for a reported 8.7 million Euros in
2001. After a promising debut season at Amsterdam, Zlatan
won his first league title, the Eredivisie in 2001-02, and the
rest is history. Winning league titles at every club he has
played for since then, Ibra has proven his worth on all the
big stages of football.
Here are listed few of the many records that the towering 6
foot 5 inch-striker from Malmo has achieved:
- Since making his Sweden debut on 31st January 2001, in
a goalless friendly against the Faroe Islands, Ibrahimovic
has made 98 appearances. He ranks 10th on the list of
most capped player for Sweden.
- The Sweden skipper has been really prolific in scoring on
national duty. Ibra is just one goal shy of claiming the
record of being Sweden's all-time top-scorer. With 48
goals, he needs one more strike to equal Sweden legend
Sven Rydall.
- Ibrahimovic has raked in big bucks throughout his career.
His move in 2011 to Serie A giants AC Milan made him one
of the highest-paid footballers. While with the Rossoneri,
Ibra collected 7.9 million Pounds a year, making him the
then 7th highest paid footballer in the world.
- In December 2013, The Guardian ranked him 3rd on the list
of the best footballers in the world, behind Cristiano
Ronaldo (Real Madrid) and Lionel Messi (Barcelona).
- In a friendly game against England in November 2012,
Ibrahimovic netted a breathtaking goal as the Swedes
routed the Three Lions 4-2. Zlatan netted an astonishing
'bicycle kick' goal that was awarded the FIFA Puskas Award
for Goal of the Year at the Ballon d'Or ceremony.
- The striker has an incredible record of winning eight
succesive domestic titles. From 2003-04 to 2010-11, Ibra
has won the domestic championship every year with
different clubs. He won in 2003-04 with Ajax, followed by
two titles at Juventus, three with Inter Milan, and one each
with Barcelona and AC Milan.
- Ibrahimovic is the only player to have scored in the
Champions League for six different clubs. The 32-year-old
has netted in Europe's prestigious tournament for Ajax,
Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan and Paris Saint-
Germain.
- While with Inter Milan, Ibrahimovic was twice (in 2007 and
2009) named in the UEFA Team of the Year.
- With 41 goals in 103 appearances he ranks 12th on the list
of top goal-scorers in the UEFA Champions League. The list
is led by former Real Madrid and Schalke striker Raul with
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