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Ibrahimovic is one of the top strikers and he is known for his agility, strength and fiery personality off the field. Here are 50 interesting facts about the Swedish player -
- He is the captain of Swedish national team and plays as a forward.
- Ibrahimovic first signed as a professional footballer with club “Malmo” in 1996 as a junior.
- He represented his club’s senior side in the all Swedish club league “Allsvenskan” in the year 1999.
- Currently he is playing for French club “Paris Saint- Germain F.C” as their forward. He is the Vice Captain of the team.
- He was born on October 03, 1981 in Sweden to emigrant parents.
- His father, a Muslim emigrated from “Bosnia” and his mother, a Catholic from Croatia.
- His partner is Helena Segar. They have two sons named, Maximilian and Vincent.
- At the age of six he was introduced to football with a pair of boots. In the initial year of junior days he played for both “Malmo” and “FBK Balkan” clubs.
- He is a great fan of Brazilian footballer “Ronaldo”. He idolized him as a teenager.
- When he was 15 years old, he preferred to work in the docks of Malmo instead of playing football. He was persuaded against the idea by his coach.
- He has honorary “Black Belt” in Taekwondo martial arts.
- There is a small football field called, “Zlatan Court” made out of recycled football shoes in Rosengard, Malmo dedicated to Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
- He was all set to move from “Malmo” club to “Arsenal FC”. But Ibrahimovic refused when Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insisted for trial.
- In July, 2001, Ibrahimovic joined Ajax for a transfer fee of € 8.7 million.
- In Ajax he blossomed under Coach Ronald Koeman and made his debut in champions League on September 17, 2002. He was instrumental in “Ajax” reaching quarter finals.
- His goal against “NCA Breda” on August 22, 2004, in the Dutch league was voted by the viewers as “Goal of the Year”.
- On August 18, 2004, playing for “Sweden” against “Netherland,” he was accused of injuring Rafael van der Vaart, his club mate on purpose. He was sold to “Juventus” by the end the month for €16 million.
- He replaced injured David Trezeguet. In his first season with “Juventus,” made his presence felt with 16 goals in the season.
- By the end of 2004 season, there was news of Ibrahimovic’s transfer to “Real Madrid” for €70 million. It turned out to be his agent “Mino Raiola’s” idea to inflate Ibrahimovic’s market.
- On Nov 14, 2005 Ibrahimovic was awarded with Swedish Award “Guldbollen”, for being the best male Swedish footballer of the year.
- Incidentally he is the only player to have won it nine times from 2005 to 2014, except for 2006.
- His 2005-06 season as a striker was not fruitful. Although he was used as a midfielder to good effect, the “Juventus” fans were frustrated.
- His stay with “Juventus” was cut short, because of 2006 Italian football scandal, referred to as “Calciopoli Scandal”.
- He signed a four year deal with “Internzionale” worth €24.8 million in Aug 10, 2006. He was a big fan of inter in his youth.
- His first season with “Internzionale” was memorable in more than one ways. The club won 30 of the 38 matches with 17 of them consequently, which is a record in “Serie A” matches. He was the club’s top scorer with 15 goals.
- His contract with “Internzionale” was renewed in 2007, for another six seasons. He was the highest paid footballer of that time.
- In Sep 2012 the city of Malmo honored Ibrahimovic with the inscription of his name in the city’s “Walk of Fame of Sports.
- Ibrahimvoic was declared as, “Serie A Footballer of the Year” for the season 2007-08. He scored 17 goals in 26 league matches in that process “Internzionale” won its Second consecutive Serie A title.
- He was declared as “Serie A Footballer of the Year” thrice, for the year 2008, 2009 and 2011.
- He was also declared as, “Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year” for the season 2007-08. He won this award record 5 times, maximum by a player.
- In the season 2008-09 his goal in the match against “Bologna FC” was voted “Goal of the Year”. He scored of his heel from the cross.
- He was the top scorer in 2008-09 “Serie A” season, with 25 goals from 38 matches. His club “Internzionale” won its 17 “Serie A” title.
- In the 2009-10 seasons he was transferred to “Barcelona FC”, for a transfer fee of €69.5 million. He scored in his first five league matches, a record for the club.
- In an interview to “The Guardian” he said, playing for “Barcelona” along with Messi, Iniesta, Xavi, Puyol, Pique, Dani Alves and Busquets was unbelievable. The level of play was from another planet.
- He was red carded for a foul in a match against “Almeria” and suspended for a game along with his coach “Duo Pep Guardiola.” His relation with his coach was not the same again.
- For 2010-11 season, he was loaned out to “A.C. Milan”. He scored the only goal in 1-0 victory against his former club in the “Milan Derby,” a biannual football match between Milanese Clubs.
- “Milan” Won the “Serie A” championship and it was rewarding for Ibrahimovic. He was the top scorer for the club with 14 goals. His performance earned praise from all and was compared with Marco van Basten, the Dutch legend.
- His temperament was tested in the match against “Bari,” where he punched Marco Rossi in the stomach. He was red carded and suspended for three matches.
- On Aug 11, 2014 Ibrahimovic paid US$ 51,000 to fund intellectually disabled Swedish national football team to “INAS World Football Championship in Brazil.”
- He was once again in the wrong side of the law when he received red card for slapping Salcatore Aroniaca in a goalless draw against “Napoli.” He was further banned for three matches by the Sports judge Gianpaolo Tosel.
- On a happier note “Milan” finished second in the 2011-12 “Serie A” league, with most win, 24 out of 38 matches. Ibrahimovic was the top scorer in the league, with 28 goals in 32 matches.
- On July 18, 2012 he signed a three years contract with French club “Paris Saint-Germain” for combined fee of €180 million. He was the second best paid footballer after Samuel Eto’o.
- In March 2014, Sweden issued set of five postal stamps on Ibrahimovic.
- Summing up his transfer to “Paris Saint-Germain,” he said “It is a big step in my career and another dream come true. I am very happy because, it is a project that I want to be involved in. I want to be part of the history of the club. I am here to win and nothing else.”
- He helped his club to 2012-13 “Ligue 1” championship, after a gap of 19 long years. He was the league’s top goal scorer with 30 goals. He was awarded “Player of the Year” by the French professional footballer (UNFP).
- Former French international Jean-Pierre Papin was of the opinion that, “we haven't had a goal scorer like him in France for a long time. He is on a different planet to anyone else”.
- On Nov 14, 2012 in a 4-1 win against England, he scored a goal from 35 yards with his back to goal with an overhead kick. The goal was called “Goal of the Year” and won him 2013 “FIFA Puskas Award.”
- Ibrahimovic is “Sweden’s” top scorer with 56 goals in 105 internationals.
- He featured in the 2007 all-time list of 50 hardest footballers by “The Times.” He is known for his powerful shot, acrobatic ability, agility, finishing and technique of scoring goal with both feet on dead ball situation.
- On Feb 14, 2015 in a match against “S.M. Caen” on scoring a goal, he took off his shirt to reveal tattoo of 50 people names around the world, suffering of hunger. This act was in support of “U.N. Food Programm.”
