Zlatan Ibrahimovic retires at 41 after a record-breaking career, many controversies and some quotable quotes

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is no Messi or Ronaldo, but the kind of cult following he has is unmatchable. Not only did he have one the most impressive records in modern football during his 22-year-long career, his legendary quotes, controversies and his fearless style always set him apart from other players.

The AC Milan striker on Sunday (June 4) announced that he was retiring from football aged 41. "I say goodbye to football but not to you," the Swede told the San Siro crowd. Ibrahimovic went on to win the last game for Milan 3-1 against Verona as he bid farewell to the Italian club.

Ibrahimovic was given a guard of honour by his teammates as he walked out after the match. He scored 93 goals in 163 appearances over two spells at Milan and went on to win two Serie A titles with the team.

 

Zlatan's incredible stats

• Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored over 570 career goals in all competitions, including more than 500 for clubs.
• He has won 34 trophies in his career, including 11 league titles, 5 domestic cups, 5 European trophies, and 3 international trophies.
• Ibrahimovic is the all-time leading scorer for the Swedish national team with 62 goals.

• He has been named in the FIFA FIFPro World XI three times and the UEFA Team of the Year four times.
• The Swede has won the 2013 FIFA Puskas Award for his 35-yard bicycle kick goal against England.
• Ibrahimovic is one of only two players to have scored in the top five European leagues (Serie A, La Liga, Ligue 1, the Premier League, and the Bundesliga).
• He is the oldest player to score in the Champions League, at the age of 40 years and 222 days.
• Ibrahimovic is also the only player to have scored in the top five European leagues and for the Swedish national team in the same season.

 

Timeline of a legendary career

1981: Zlatan Ibrahimovic is born on October 3 in Malmo, Sweden.
1999: Ibrahimovic makes his professional debut for the Swedish club Malmo FF, scoring his first goal in his second appearance.
2001: He joins Dutch club AFC Ajax, and becomes a start player there with his goal-scoring ability
2004: Ibrahimovic gets transferred to Italian side Juventus. He helps the team win two Serie A titles. Later these titles were revoked due ue to a match-fixing scandal.
2006: He moves to Inter Milan and helps Inter win three consecutive Serie A titles from 2007 to 2009.
2009: Ibrahimovic moves to Spanish giants Barcelona.

2010: He joins AC Milan on loan from Barcelona. Ibrahimovic helps Milan win the Serie A title in his first season with the club.
2012: Ibrahimovic signs a permanent deal with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and is now considered one of the best strikers in Europe.
2016: After a successful spell at PSG, Ibrahimovic joins Manchester United. He helps the team win the EFL Cup and the UEFA Europa League.
2018: Ibrahimovic moves to the MLS and joins the LA Galaxy. He has a remarkable debut season, scoring 22 goals.
2019: After a season with the LA Galaxy, Ibrahimovic returns to AC Milan, signing a six-month contract.
2020: Ibrahimovic extends his contract with AC Milan for another season and continues scoring goals regularly.
2022: He wins second Serie A title with Milan as the club ends its 11-year drought.

 

Zlatan and controversies

Other than being a top-class football player, Ibrahimovic has been involved in several controversies throughout his career. Here are some notable ones:

Feuds with teammates: Ibrahimovic has had public disputes with some of his teammates, including former Barcelona teammate Pep Guardiola. Their relationship deteriorated during Ibrahimovic's time at Barcelona, and he openly criticized Guardiola in his autobiography.

Fight with John Carew: In 2004, Ibrahimovic had a physical altercation with fellow Swedish international and striker John Carew during a training session with the national team. He was later sent home from the squad.

Red cards: Ibrahimovic has received numerous red cards throughout his career. Some notable incidents include his sending off in a Champions League match against Chelsea in 2015 while playing for PSG and a red card during a friendly match against the US in 2019.

Racial controversy: In 2018, Ibrahimovic was accused of making racially insensitive comments towards a rival player during a match in Major League Soccer (MLS). The incident sparked controversy, and he faced criticism for his alleged remarks.

Comments on Pep Guardiola and his book: In his autobiography "I Am Zlatan," Ibrahimovic made several controversial statements about his former coach, Pep Guardiola, and criticized his coaching methods.

Taunting of fans: Ibrahimovic has occasionally been involved in incidents where he taunted opposing fans. One notable instance occurred during his time at Paris Saint-Germain when he directed derogatory gestures towards the Bordeaux fans.

Insulting referees: In 2011, he was accused of insulting a referee after being sent off during a match. He was later fined and suspended for one match. In 2016, he was accused of making sexist comments about a female referee. He later apologized for his comments.

Most famous quotes from Zlatan

'Dear Los Angeles, you're welcome,' Ibrahimovic took out a full-page ad in Los Angeles Times to announce his arrival at the club and the MLS. Not really known for his modesty, Ibrahimovic's straightforward, funny and often politically incorrect comments have now become quotes, and have further added to his cult status. Here are some of the best quotes from the footballer:

"I can't help but laugh at how perfect I am."

"I came like a king, left like a legend."

"Lions do not compare themselves to humans."

"Zlatan doesn't do auditions."

"When you buy me, you are buying a Ferrari. If you drive a Ferrari, you put premium petrol in the tank, you hit the motorway, and you step on the gas. Guardiola filled up with diesel and took a spin in the countryside. He should have bought a Fiat."

"I don't just score goals, I make them."

"I have met God, and he has nothing to say to me."

"I came, I saw, I conquered."

Zlatan: "Only God knows who will go through."
Reporter: "It's hard to ask him."
Zlatan: "You're talking to him."

"Arsene Wenger asked me to have a trial with Arsenal when I was 17. I turned it down. Zlatan doesn't do auditions."

"I don't believe they can change the Eiffel Tower for my statue, even the people behind the club. But if they can, I will stay here - I promise you."

"What do you mean, 'present?' She got Zlatan."