There is only one Zlatan Ibrahimovic

What are the very few things a footballer needs to make a name for himself? Be it talent, passion or confidence, there is one thing who masters them all, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

These aren’t the only things that make Zlatan the footballer he is today but it’s also his attitude off the pitch that has gained popularity over the years, that separates him from the rest.

The Swedish frontman first made his senior club debut with Malmö FF in 1999 and has since, never looked back. The Swede has played for some of Europe's biggest clubs during his career - Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan and PSG - winning major trophies with all.

Let’s face it, if you have the ability to score tap-ins from 30-yards with your heels, your talent is justified. Zlatan has a very high level of confidence, people call it his arrogance, but that’s one major thing which has made him successful over the years. 

"Why is he so arrogant?", "Who does he think he is?", "He flops when it comes to big games" – Questions and accusations like these have been hurled at him throughout his career, but Zlatan had just one answer, ‘I am Zlatan’.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has had to work twice as hard as anyone else he's played with to get to where he is today.

Zlatan’s parents divorced when he was just two years old, after which he lived at his mother’s house with his sister Sanela. His mother worked as a cleaner while his dad worked the night shift as a watchman. Rarely he had anything to eat and as he said in his autobiography: 

“I would often come home hungry as a wolf and open the fridge thinking: Please, please, let there be something! But no, nothing, just the usual stuff: milk, butter, some bread, and if I was lucky some juice. Sometimes there was only beer, and my stomach was screaming for food. There was a pain in that which I'll never forget. I could search every drawer, every corner, for one single macaroni or a meatball. I could fill my stomach with toast.” 

He was one of the most talented players on the pitch, when he first got enrolled at a local football club. His generation was inspired by the Samba style of football and as a result, he spent most of his time practising the flicks and tricks that the South Americans are famous for.

This attitude stayed with him even when he went to the Netherlands to play for Ajax. Zlatan was a great admirer of Marco van Basten and Ronald Koeman because of the laurels they had earned with club and country. His logic was simple, ‘only God can judge me’, and that attitude has become the motto of his life. 

Fabio Capello was impressed with this attitude of Zlatan’s after his move to Juventus and saw his behaviour as good for the team. He carried this aggressive behaviour with him to Inter Milan.

His worst spell came at Barcelona where he just didn’t manage to fit in the squad. Few words which Pep Guardiola had for him were, 

"Hey you, here in Barca we keep our feet down on the ground. Here we don't drive any Ferraris or Porsches to training."

‘I nodded, didn't go cocky on him, like how the f*** is what car I'm driving your concern? But I thought "What does he want? What message is he giving me? Believe me, I don't need any fancy cars or parking on the sidewalk to show off anymore. That wasn't it. I love my cars. They're a passion of mine, but I sensed something else behind his words. Kind of: don't think you're so special.

'I didn't fit in, not at all. But I was thinking: Accept the situation. Don't confirm their thoughts about you. So I started adapting. I became too kind. It was insane.'

"You have no balls. You sh*t yourself in front of Mourinho. You can go f*** yourself!"said Zlatan to Guardiola.

Zlatan has never been comfortable with his coaches throughout his career and it turned out to be even worse at Barca. Eventually, he was sent on loan to AC Milan, making his move permanent, the following season.

The only trophy that has eluded him is the Champions League but his exceptional goalscoring records have silenced all the critics.

There is indeed only one Zlatan and now you know why and as he puts it: 

“You were born as the one you are. I mean destiny, yes there is destiny. Some things is made by destiny yes, other things by hard work, but quality you don’t learn. Quality you are born with”