A football legend and charismatic character, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is an icon in football circles, which is why an official documentary to honour his legacy isn’t far-fetched. You can get to know a lot about him as you read the story of Zlatan Ibrahimovic here.
The legendary Zlatan Ibrahimovic is an iconic football player, but his fame goes beyond his career. Although he’s an exceptional striker and has entertained fans with his technique, ball control, acrobatic volleys and strikes, he also has a very bold personality that sets him apart from the crowd, and controversies that have marked his career. With that being said, it’s not surprising that fans would want to know more about the football superstar, and what inspired his rise to success.
Insight into Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Early Life
Ibrahimovic born in Malmo, Sweden to Šefik Ibrahimović (a Muslim Bosniak) and Jurka Gravić (Catholic Croat) in 1981. He attests to living a hard life during his youth, beginning from when his mother would hit him with a wooden spoon until it broke, and would send him to buy another, hence causing a vicious cycle. Sometimes, he got hit with a rolling pin. However, he moved in with his father after the Swedish Social Services came into the picture as his mother ran into trouble with the law for handling stolen goods.
Besides this, there was also the issue of his half-sister’s drug addiction and Jurka’s workload – cleaning offices for 14 hours every day just to support her five children. However, things weren’t so rosy, as his father (who worked as a caretaker) had a habit of drinking heavily, especially when the reality of the Yugoslav war hit. Due to this, Zlatan was acquainted with hunger during his stay with Šefik; his fridge always had beer, but little to no food. To survive, he’d sneak away to his mother’s apartment or steal bikes and shoplift. However, his penchant for football still thrived, as he took his first steps into the game at six, when he got his first football boots.
Beginning of Ibrahimovic’s Football Career
Zlatan’s journey to international fame and football mastery began at his hometown club, Malmo FF, where he became a regular in his early teens. But before this, he played for FBK Balkan, Malmo BI and BK Flagg clubs. However, he toyed with the idea of quitting football to work at the Malmo docks, but his manager encouraged him to keep playing. Zlatan’s hero growing up was Ronaldo, whose pictures he would put in his room.
After signing his first contract with Malmo FF in 1996, he became part of the senior side for Sweden’s Allsvenskan, although the team finished in 13th place and got relegated to the second-tier football league. Nevertheless, they bounced back in the next season, undoubtedly bringing a thrill to their fans who enjoy watching Swedish clubs play and even bet on their favourite teams. And fortunately, there are many credible Swedish betting sites; all you need to do is visit spelbolag utan svensk licens for more information on these websites which offer a plethora of free games, those with boosted odds as well as bonuses.
His performance may have attracted Arsenal’s former coach, Arsene Wenger, as he tried to get Zlatan on his team. However, Wenger wasn’t successful; according to Zlatan, Wenger asked him to audition, which he didn’t do. Ajax’s technical director, Leo Beenhakker was also interested in Ibrahimovic, and in 2001, Ajax and Malmo FF signed a deal, allowing him to transfer to his new team for 80 million Swedish kronor (€8.7 million).
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Entry into Big Football
Ajax is just one of many major football clubs Zlatan has joined throughout his career. However, he got a rocky start at Ajax because manager Co Adriaanse gave him little playtime. But all that changed when the new manager, Ronald Koeman, added him to the starting lineup, after which Ajax secured the 2001–2002 Eredivisie title. He kept shining bright in the next seasons, scoring two goals in their 2-1 win against Lyon in the 2002 Champions League debut. Scoring five championship goals that year and pulling off the goal of the year in 2004 made him more popular.
After Ajax, he transferred to Juventus for €16 million in 2004, where he immediately joined the starting eleven and scored 16 goals that season. Zlatan has also played for Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan, PSG, Manchester United, and LA Galaxy. He’s also played for the Swedish U18 and U21 teams, as well as the senior teams in major international tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup.
Ibrahimovic’s Life Outside Football
Ibrahimovic is currently with Helena Seger and has two sons with her. He loves to spend summers in his Malmo home, although he used to live outside Los Angeles when he was still a player for LA Galaxy. He speaks the following languages fluently; Spanish, Italian, Swedish, Bosnian, and English. Besides this, you’ll find that he refers to himself in the third person. In 2003, he trademarked ‘Zlatan’, giving him all the rights to the name for clothing, shoes, and sporting goods. Zlatan may have dominated the football field, but a few players have gathered the controversy he’s gotten all through his career.
Controversies Surrounding Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Ibrahimovic has had his fair share of controversies as a footballer, the most notable being his rejection of Arsene Wenger’s offer. According to him, auditions aren’t his thing, and the manager either knows him or he doesn’t. But it didn’t end with Wenger – he also gave a scathing reply to Norwegian striker John Carew who thought his flicks and tricks were unnecessary. There’s also the time when he threatened to break Rafael van der Vaart’s legs on purpose, and had an altercation with Mido, where he was almost hurt by the Egyptian player. He has also fought his former teammate Oguchi Onyewu and insulted his then-coach Pep Guardiola so many times.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is an icon that many football fans all over the world are familiar with. His grace on the field, his tricks, techniques thrilled fans and made the sports more exciting. But he’s also popular for being controversial, as he has a bold personality, and does what he wants to do without fear of anyone. Some may find his brazen attitude offensive, but that’s also why he stands out. Love him or hate him, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic is hard to ignore!
