Zlatan Ibrahimović will go down in history, not only as a world-class striker but as one of the most entertaining players off the pitch. After decades of listening to the Swedish icon produce eccentric quotes, we’ve picked out ten of his best lines.
Zlatan Ibrahimović will go down in history, not only as a world-class striker but as one of the most entertaining players off the pitch. After decades of listening to the Swedish icon produce eccentric quotes, we’ve picked out ten of his best lines.
Back in 2000, when Zlatan was establishing himself as a top striker at Malmo, many were eyeing up a deal to snap up the Swede before he eventually moved to Ajax.
One of those interested parties was Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal. In the years since, Ibrahimović has revealed how he met the legendary Gunners boss and even posed for pictures with an Arsenal jersey before Wenger asked him to have a trial to get a closer look – with Ibrahimović responding in true Zlatan style before turning the offer down.
It’s fair to say that Zlatan and Pep Guardiola didn’t get on too well during the Swede’s spell at Barcelona.
Describing the differences between the two Zlatan went on to say, “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.”
Zlatan has been known for his fair share of tricks and skills throughout his career. An example of such is when he made a fool out of Liverpool defender Stephane Henchoz back in 2001, with Zlatan following it up with this golden quote.
Zlatan finally decided to grace England with his presence when he signed for Manchester United in 2016, seeing him join a league inundated with elite strikers.
In a BT Sport interview in 2017, the 6ft 5in striker named the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Sergio Aguero among the best in the Premier League before he was asked why he didn’t mention his own name in the conversation – leading to this classic Zlatan line.
One thing Zlatan certainly hasn’t lacked throughout his career is confidence. A prime example of Zlatan flaunting his ego occurred back in 2014 when talking to a reporter about the 2014 World Cup play-offs.
Zlatan said, “Only God knows who will go through”.
Reporter: “it’s hard to ask him.”
Zlatan: “You’re talking to him”.
Another hilarious example of Zlatan showing his extremely high opinion of himself was when he was asked what he had got his girlfriend for Valentine’s Day, leading to a trademark Zlatan response.
Another comical response to shut down an opponent, after the then Valencia striker John Carew labelled Zlatan’s skills and tricks as ‘pointless’, back in 2002.
With his stint at Paris Saint-Germain coming to a close, Ibrahimović tested just how desperate the Parisians were to keep the man that had helped fire them to numerous trophies with his 108 goals.
When Zlatan joined LA Galaxy in the MLS, many thought it would be the last big paycheck of the striker’s career. That was far from the case though, and when Zlatan left America to return to AC Milan, he parted ways with America in true Zlatan-style.
Zlatan responding to his Sweden side failing to qualify for the World Cup.
Newcastle are unbeaten in their last ten Premier League games on home soil, while Brighton have only one win from their last nine league games away from home. Both teams to score h...