Zlatan Ibrahimovic, at the age of 41, has announced his retirement from football.
- Ibrahimovic announces retirement
- Forward gives speech to Milan fans
- Striker never won the Champions League
What’s the news?
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has decided to retire from football. The 41-year-old Swedish striker made his departure known after AC Milan’s final league match. Ibrahimovic addressed the fans in the stadium, and the usually stoic player couldn’t hold back his tears.
What did Zlatan say?
To the fans, Zlatan said, “The first time we arrived at Milan you gave me happiness, the second time you gave me love. From my heart I want to thank you fans. You welcomed me with open arms, you made me feel at home. I will be a Milan fan for the whole It’s time to say goodbye to football, not you.”
The backstory
Earlier this week, AC Milan announced that Ibrahimovic would be leaving the club at the end of the season. Initially, it was expected that the experienced forward would continue his career elsewhere, but it has now become clear that he has decided to retire completely.
Ibrahimovic can look back on an impressive career that took him to various clubs in Europe. He made his debut for Malmö in Sweden and then played for Ajax, Juventus, Inter, Barcelona, PSG, Manchester United, and LA Galaxy. He has won titles in the Netherlands, Spain, France, and Italy during his 24-year football career.
What’s next?
It is unknown what Zlatan will do after his active career. He is a co-owner of a club in Sweden and could potentially return to his home country. A return to football has not been ruled out by the player himself, although it would not be as a coach. He previously stated that he did not aspire to that role, saying, “Impossible. Because during the match I’d slap at least two players and, after the match, eight!”
