Zlatan Ibrahimović is a Swedish former footballer. He played as a striker. He scored more than 570 goals (over 500 of them for clubs) and he scored in four different decades, from the 1990s through the 2020s. He also won 34 trophies, making him one of the most decorated players ever.
He started his professional career at Malmö FF in Sweden in 1999. Two years later, he moved to Ajax in the Netherlands, where he won two league titles. After three seasons at Ajax, he signed with Juventus in Italy. But when Juventus were relegated for a match-fixing scandal in 2006, Ibrahimović left for their domestic rivals, Inter Milan.
In 2012, he joined Paris Saint-Germain. That was a huge move for PSG – he led them to their first Ligue 1 title in 19 years. Over four seasons in Paris, he won four straight league titles and three domestic cups. He was the top scorer in Ligue 1 for three of those seasons and became PSG’s all-time leading goalscorer by the time he left.
In 2016, he signed with Manchester United on a free transfer, reuniting with his former Inter coach José Mourinho. In his first season, he won the EFL Cup and the Europa League. But a serious knee injury in 2017 limited his playing time. After recovering, he moved to LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer in 2018.
In January 2020, at age 38, he made a surprising return to AC Milan. He played a key role in turning the club around and helped them win the Serie A title in 2022 – his fifth league title in Italy. He announced his retirement at the end of the 2022-23 season, at age 41.
5 Fun Facts You Didn’t Know About Zlatan Ibrahimović
He’s Actually a Black Belt in Taekwondo
Zlatan Ibrahimović’s acrobatic goals aren’t just natural talent. But they come from years of martial arts training. He holds a black belt in Taekwondo, which he began practicing as a teenager. The sport taught him the extraordinary body control, balance, and bicycle-kick technique that became his trademark. He once said that being a black belt gives him a “different perspective” on the pitch.
He Used to Steal Bicycles to Get to Training
Growing up as the son of Bosnian and Croatian immigrants in the rough Malmö suburb of Rosengård, Zlatan Ibrahimović didn’t have money for transport. He would steal bicycles to ride to training. He once admitted that if he saw a bike he liked, he’d simply take it. He eventually stopped after his mother threatened to call the police on him herself.
He Wrote a Book Titled “I Am Zlatan” – And It Became a Bestseller
While many footballers have biographies, Zlatan Ibrahimović took it to another level. His autobiography, “Jag är Zlatan” (I Am Zlatan), was published in 2011. It became an instant bestseller across Europe. In it, he held nothing back – criticizing former coaches and revealing dressing-room secrets. He also showed the raw, unfiltered version of himself. It’s widely considered one of the best football autobiographies ever written.
He Almost Chose Basketball Over Football
As a kid, Zlatan Ibrahimović was also obsessed with basketball. He was tall, athletic, and loved watching the NBA. He seriously considered pursuing basketball instead of football and even played for a local team. Fortunately for the football world, he stuck with the pitch – though he still claims he could have made it in the NBA if he’d tried.
He Buys His Own iPhones (And Hates Selfies)
Despite being one of the most famous footballers on the planet, Zlatan has a hilariously ordinary pet peeve: he refuses to take selfies with fans. He’s been known to say, “You either have my full attention or nothing at all.” He also refuses to take free phones from sponsors, insisting on buying his own iPhones because he doesn’t trust anyone else’s software. He famously warned Apple not to “mess with the king” when a software update messed up his phone.
FAQs
Q. How many goals did Zlatan Ibrahimović score in his career?
A. Zlatan Ibrahimović scored more than 570 career goals. He scored over 500 goals at club level.
Q. Which clubs did Zlatan play for during his career?
A. Zlatan played for Malmö, Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, and LA Galaxy.
Q. What did Zlatan achieve with PSG?
A. Zlatan won four straight Ligue 1 titles and three domestic cups. He became their all-time leading goalscorer before leaving the club.
Q. When did Zlatan retire from football?
A. Ibrahimović retired at the end of the 2022-23 season at the age of 41.
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