Zlatan Ibrahimovic is one of the most entertaining footballers in the world — both on and off the pitch. But it’s the end of an era as the 41-year-old announced his retirement on Sunday after completing the season with AC Milan. His career spanned 24 years, with stints at Inter Milan, Barcelona, PSG, Manchester United and LA Galaxy.
From incredible strikes to outrageous comments, he constantly kept us on our toes. The soccer world will miss him, but we’ve compiled some of his best quotes.
1. “I can’t help but laugh at how perfect I am.”
2. “Swedish style? No. Yugoslavian style? Of course not. It has to be Zlatan-style.”
3. “Zlatan doesn’t do auditions.”
– When Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger offered the then-teenaged Ibrahimovic a trial.
4. “What [John] Carew does with a football, I can do with an orange.”
– In response to Carew’s suggestions that Ibrahimovic’s flicks and tricks were “pointless.”
5. “First I went left; he did too. Then I went right and he did too. Then I went left again and he went to buy a hot dog.”
– On how he twisted Liverpool defender Stephane Henchoz inside-out.
6. “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. [Pep] Guardiola filled up with diesel and took a spin in the countryside. He should have bought a Fiat.”
– On his single season at Barcelona where he endured a tense relationship with then-coach Pep Guardiola.
7. “What do you mean, ‘present?’ She got Zlatan.”
– On his ex-girlfriend’s engagement gift.
