Doelpunten van zlatan ibrahimovic biography

As part of a new series, we use the power of photography to tell the stories of the greatest and most influential footballers in the world. This time we look at Zlatan Ibrahimovic’ glittering career from his days in the immigrant neighbourhoods of Malmö to his success in Milano, Paris and Barcelona.

A 17-year-old Zlatan in his Malmö home. Zlatan was born in Malmö to a Bosnian father and Croatian mother. He grew up in the neighbourhood Rosengård where mostly immigrants lived. Out on the streets is where Zlatan honed his skills. As you can see, Ronaldo is Zlatan’s hero growing up, and it’s interesting that he would go on to play for three clubs the Brazilian also represented.

After making his debut in 1999, aged 17, Zlatan established himself in the first team over the coming two seasons. His performances earned him a first call-up to Sweden’s national team, and in 2001 it was announced Zlatan would join Dutch giants AFC Ajax. Zlatan scored 16 goals in 40 league matches for Malmö FF before moving to Amsterdam.

Zlatan’s move to Ajax saw him link up with the likes of Rafael van der Vaart, Christian Chivu, Andy van der Meyde, Steven Pienaar and Maxwell in a highly-talented Ajax team. In his first season, Ajax won the Eredivisie title and the KNVB Cup, which meant Zlatan started life on the continent with a double. His taste for titles didn’t end there.

The second season wasn’t as successful as Ajax went trophyless, but Zlatan’s third at the club saw him finish top goalscorer and saw Ajax reclaim their Eredivisie title. After a strong Euro 2004, Zlatan would leave Ajax having scored 48 goals in 110 appearances. His legacy also left long-standing spats with the likes of van der Vaart and Louis van Gaal.

After going to the 2002 World Cup without making a mark, Zlatan definitely announced himself to the world during Euro 2004 in Portugal. He scored in the opening 5-0 crush of Bulgaria, before netting a remarkabl

Viewed as one of the world's top strikers, as well as being one of the most temperamental, Ibrahimovic made a name for himself at Inter Milan and won himself numerous personal awards at the San Siro. Known for his strength, aerial ability and fiery personality, Ibrahimovic has been compared to Dutch legend Marco Van Basten for his playing style.

Born to a Bosnian father and a Croatian mother, Ibrahimovic grew up in Sweden and plays for the Swedish national team. He began his career at nearby Malmo FF, before moving to Ajax where he blossomed, but courted controversy in his three years, before he was sold to Juventus.

Caught up in the Calciopoli scandal, Ibrahimovic was relegated to Serie B, but was not keen to stay on in Turin. Moving to Internazionale for £16.7 million, he became a fixture in their three title-winning side and then-boss Jose Mourinho claimed that he was, for him, "the best player in the world, ahead of (Cristiano) Ronaldo" - although the quote raised some eyebrows.

In 2009, he announced that he would like to seek a new challenge and agreed terms on an incredible swap deal with Samuel Eto'o that would see him become a Barcelona player, signing a five-year deal. His one season at the Nou Camp saw him score goals, but he fell out with coach Pep Guardiola and joined AC Milan on loan in August 2010, before making the move permanent a year later.

Ibrahimovic joined Paris Saint-Germain for around €20 million. The transfer also made Ibrahimovic the most expensive football player in combined transfer fees, valued at an estimated €180 million.

Strengths: Strong and agile, he plays well with his back to goal and boasts some of the best ball control around.

Weaknesses: Drifts in and out of games, has questionable temperament and has been criticised for his work-rate in the big matches.

Career high: Top scored in Serie A in 2009 as he led Inter to the title.

Career low: Missed a penalty as Sweden

Swedish footballer (born 1981)

"Ibrahimović" redirects here. For the surname, see Ibrahimović (surname).

Zlatan Ibrahimović (born 3 October 1981) is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as a striker. Ibrahimović is known for his acrobatic strikes and volleys, technique, ball control, and physical dominance. He is regarded as one of the greatest strikers of all time and is one of the most decorated footballers in the world, having won 34 trophies in his career. He scored over 570 career goals, including more than 500 club goals, and scored in four consecutive decades between the 1990s and the 2020s.

Ibrahimović began his career at Malmö FF in 1999, and signed for Ajax two years later, where he won two Eredivisie titles and gained a reputation as one of the most promising forwards in Europe. He departed three years later to sign for Juventus before joining domestic rivals Inter Milan in 2006. At Inter Milan, he won three consecutive Serie A titles and his popularity experienced a significant increase. In the summer of 2009, he moved to Barcelona in one of the world's most expensive transfers. After just one season, he returned to Italy, signing for Inter's rivalAC Milan. With them, he won the Serie A title in his debut season. In 2012, Ibrahimović joined Paris Saint-Germain, leading them to their first Ligue 1 title in 19 years and soon establishing himself as a leading figure in their dominance of French football. During his four-season stay in France, he won four consecutive Ligue 1 titles, numerous domestic cups, was the top scorer in Ligue 1 for three seasons and became PSG's all-time leading goalscorer at the time. In 2016, he joined Manchester United on a free transfer, winning several trophies in his only full season with the club. Ibrahimović joined American club LA Galaxy in 2018 and rejoined Milan in 2020, winning his fifth Serie A title in 2022.

Ibrahimović is one of eleven players to have made 10

Zlatan Ibrahimović, the Swedish football icon, has left an indelible mark on European football with his successful stints at various prestigious clubs, including Ajax, Juventus, Inter and PSG. Known for his immense talent and charismatic personality, Ibrahimovic has delivered exceptional performances throughout his career.

Biography

Early Life     

Zlatan Ibrahimović was born on October 3, 1981, in Malmö, Sweden. Growing up in the Rosengård district, a predominantly immigrant neighborhood, Zlatan faced several challenges concerning his social life. His love for football began to flourish at an early age and he starting his career with local club Malmö FF's youth team. Ibrahimovic would quickly showcase his exceptional talent and was promoted to the senior squad at just 17 years old.

His remarkable performances caught the attention of scouts from across Europe. In 2001, Zlatan joined AFC Ajax and made an immediate impact, helping the Dutch team winning two consecutive Eredivisie titles. His spectacular technical skills on the field earned him a reputation as one of Europe's most promising forwards.

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Zlatan Ibrahimović's success in European clubs

After the professional journey began with Ajax Amsterdam in 2001, his extraordinary goal-scoring abilities earned him moves to top-tier clubs such as Juventus, Inter, Barcelona, and Paris Saint-Germain.

During the period in Juventus and Inter (2004-2009), he became a key figure in both club – he would score 16 goals in in his Serie A first season and Juventus would also become champions the same season. In Inter Milan, Zlatan would be