Zlatan Ibrahimovic: the Swedish striker, of Bosnian descent, is one of Europe’s most decorated players. He’s been named Serie A’s player of the year three times (2008, 2009, 2011), Serie A’s foreign footballer of the year four times (2005, 2008, 2009, 2011) and Swedish footballer of the year a record six times (2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011).
In addition to his personal awards, he has a truly incredible and unique collection of league winners’ medals.
Ibrahimovic has won his club’s respective league title every year for the last nine years. In 2002 he lifted his first of two consecutive Eredivisie titles with Ajax. In 2005 and 2006 he was part of the controversial Juventus teams that won two Serie A titles on the bounce under Fabio Capello (although both were later revoked due to Juventus’ prominent role in the Calciopoli scandal). When Juventus were forcibly relegated for their part in the match-fixing scandal, Ibrahimovic, along with many of Juve’s star names left the Old Lady, with Zlatan opting to sign for the club he supported as a boy, Inter. At Inter he once again drank champagne from the Scudetto. Whilst at Inter they were kings of Italy for three years in a row. Even when he left his Italian comfort zone to test himself at European Champions Barcelona he continued his unbelievable winning streak, lifting the La Liga title in his only season at the Camp Nou. Last season he received his 9th consecutive league winner’s medal as a member of the triumphant AC Milan side.
His record of nine consecutive league winner’s medals with five separate European clubs is unrivalled by anybody in the history of the sport.
It’s no surprise when you look at his statistics that he’s adored in Italy where he’s scored on average one goal every two games. Many Italians regard him as one of the best players in the world, and can’t understand why he isn’t being considered more seriously for international awards such as the Ballon d’Or.
Now that I’ve told you of his overflowing trophy cabinet you too might now be asking yourself why he isn’t given the same recognition as players such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo?
The reason is that there are two Zlatan Ibrahimovics.
One is the skilful, powerful, majestic goal-scorer that’s scored 109 goals in 206 in Serie A games for Juventus, Inter and Milan. The other’s a bungling, clumsy, selfish, lazy-looking, pony-tailed lump that plays outside of Italian domestic competitions.
For many non-Italians who only see Ibrahimovic in Champions League games and when he plays for his country at International tournaments, the rave reviews from Italy are confusing to say the least.
The events of the last two games are an excellent reflection of Ibrahimovic’s split personality. On Saturday Ibrahimovic scored an excellent hat-trick as Milan thrashed Palermo 4-0 in Sicily. The Swede performed brilliantly, and all three goals were finished with class and poise.
Last night, against Arsenal in the Champions League he looked like a completely different player. He was awkward and sluggish. He had the control of a rhino and the movement of a drunkard. His passing was shambolic and he continuously gave the ball away. His shooting seemed to lack any effort, particularly from free-kicks and despite his huge 6ft 5in frame, he was brushed off the ball with relative ease by the much smaller Arsenal defenders.
This isn’t an uncommon sight for regular viewers of the Champions League. Time after time Ibrahimovic’s failed to turn up for European nights.
It’s not only in the Champions League that Ibra’s regularly left fans of the beautiful game disappointed. In his native, Sweden, he’s been a constant let-down. 29 goals in 75 internationals doesn’t represent a good return when you compare it to his club form. At major tournaments he’s promised much but delivered very little and in 2008 he scored against Greece to end an amazing two year international goal drought. In 2010 he was made national team captain in an effort to energise the lacklustre striker, and the push seems to have had a degree of success, with Ibrahimovic scoring a hat-trick in a qualifier after coming off the bench against Finland.
Ibrahimovic will always be judged by his unsuccessful and expensive spell at Barcelona. In an attempt to keep up with Real Madrid’s spending, Barcelona paid the equivalent of 70 million euro for Serie A’s Swedish goal-machine. Though his scoring record wasn’t shoddy (16 goals) he made just 29 appearances for the Blaugrana in his only season in Spain. His lazy façade and his over-casual style of play won very few fans in Cataluña and he was shipped back to Milan for a cut-price 24 million euro. He was a monumental failure and his inability to settle in Barcelona will forever stain the reputation of Ibrahimovic.
Ibrahimovic remains a strange enigma; brilliant wherever he’s played in Italy, terrible in all other competitions.
His inability to perform outside of Serie A has frustrated plenty of football fans who’d love to see him replicate his Serie A form on the international and European stage.
Many theories have been offered as to why he’s frustrated football fans so much. Some claim the difference in styles between Serie A and the rest of Europe means he’s unable to have an impact in other competitions. Some claim the criticism of his performances in other competitions has had an irreversible effect on his confidence, and that’s why he’s not showed up for so many big games.
Whatever the reason, Zlatan Ibrahimovic can never be considered one of the best players in the world due to the fact that he’s never managed to live up to his Italian billing in other competitions.
Zlatan may have nine league titles out of nine, but his failure to shine in the Champions League, La Liga and for Sweden means he will always be considered somewhat of an underachiever.
