05 June 2023 , 09:14
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic has finally brought the curtain down on a long and successful career.
One of the most iconic forwards of the 21st Century, the Swedish striker announced on Sunday evening that he would be hanging his boots up following a second spell with Italian giants AC Milan. The now 41-year-old has enjoyed a glittering 24-year playing career that has taken him to the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, France, England and the US.
With 511 club goals to his name and 33 major trophies, Ibrahimovic is one of the most successful strikers in world football. He is also one of the most iconic.
Take a look at some of the craziest moments throughout his career as it comes to an end:
Rejecting Arsenal trial
Ibrahimovic enjoyed a hugely successful spell in the Premier League with Manchester United. He joined the Red Devils in 2016 and went on to score 29 goals in all competitions for the club.
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The Swede could have arrived on English shores way before then after being offered the chance to sign for Arsenal back in 2000 when he was with Ajax. Pictures of the striker posing in the Gunners’ number nine shirt have since surfaced.
However, once Ibrahimovic found out that he would have to go through a trial, he quickly turned his back on the opportunity. Detailing his conversation with Arsene Wenger, he said: “I was like, 'No way, Zlatan doesn't do auditions.' "I thought 'You either know me or you don't, and if you don't know me, you can't really want me'.”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic was in talks with Arsenal (Press Association Images)What is your Zlatan Ibrahimovic highlight? Share your thoughts in the comments below
Carew's orange
John Carew vs Zlatan Ibrahimovic was not a battle that any of us expected to see, let’s be honest. However, the pair were soon involved in a bitter war of words.
The former Aston Villa striker criticised the Swede for his tricks and flicks on the football pitch, thinking they were “pointless”. Predictably, Ibrahimovic did not take particularly kindly to Carew’s scathing criticism.
He replied in typical Zlatan style: "What Carew does with a football, I can do with an orange.”
We’re still yet to see Ibrahimovic score a hat-trick in front of the Holte End with a satsuma at the time of writing so make of that what you will…
Guardiola’s Ferrari feud
Pep Guardiola is set to go down as one of the most successful managers in the history of the game but Ibrahimovic is certainly not a fan. During the Swede’s ill-fated spell with Barcelona, the two certainly did not see eye-to-eye.
The striker was regularly irritated that he was played out on the wing following his arrival at the Camp Nou. Despite a very respectable goal record in Catalonia - Ibrahimovic scoring 22 goals in 46 outings - he made his displeasure with Guardiola known.
Speaking about his position, he said: "When you buy me, you are buying a Ferrari. 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."
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Ibrahimovic was certainly not a fan of Pep Guardiola (Getty Images)Pique photograph
Sticking with his time in Barcelona, Ibrahimovic courted controversy due to his reply to a journalist who asked him about a photo of him and Gerard Pique. The snap showed him and his Barcelona teammate close to each other in the club’s car park.
When jokingly asked if he was gay, the Swede responded: "No, no, you and your sister come home now and I will prove that I'm not gay".
Ibrahimovic’s reaction certainly left Pique amused. Recalling the incident 13 years later, the former defender said: "In that photo, we are in the parking lot of the club. There is my car and there is the press. That I could eat my mouth with Zlatan, but not in the parking lot of the club. The photo is totally taken out of context. Best of all, it was Zlatan's reaction.”
Dream MLS debut
When Ibrahimovic decided to join MLS side LA Galaxy in 2020, it seemed as though his roadshow was drawing to a close. Oh, how wrong we were.
He paid for an entire page in the Los Angeles Times to announce his arrival, the advert reading “Dear Los Angeles, you’re welcome.”,
His debut then came against cross-city rivals Los Angeles FC and it looked to be turning into a nightmare for the striker as Galaxy found themselves 3-0 down. The deficit was reduced to just one goal before Ibrahimovic came off the bench.
Ibrahimovic enjoyed a dream MLS debut against Los Angeles FC (Getty Images)Just six minutes later and he fired home a stunning equaliser from 40 yards before heading home a late winner in typical Zlatan style. He continued to make headlines across the pond by claiming that he was the best player in the history of the league and claimed that he was “too good” for the competition.
Honourable mentions
The bicycle kick against England certainly has to be up there, whilst his stunning solo goal for Ajax has to rank as a career highlight.