Ibrahimovic: The Guardian Angel of AC Milan and Icon of Football

There are not many who dare to ignore the hierarchies of football, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the fearless Swedish striker, is one of the few exceptions. His self-confidence remains unbroken, and his personality radiates a fearlessness similar to that of Muhammad Ali. In an exclusive interview with The Athletic, his distinctive egoism and unparalleled charm are once again evident. Zlatan Ibrahimovic sees himself in the upper league of football greats, comparable to Messi and Ronaldo. His impressive career includes twelve league titles with clubs such as Ajax, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Barcelona, and Paris Saint-Germain. “I became the best,” he declares confidently, and he indeed comes very close to this self-assessment. During his time with AC Milan on their current USA tour, he threw the ceremonial first pitch at a New York Yankees baseball game—without practicing beforehand, of course. Ibrahimovic warned the author of the article, Adam Crafton, that his time was precious. Nevertheless, the conversation developed in all possible directions and was simply brilliant. Ibrahimovic ended his active career a year ago and is now an advisor to the board at AC Milan. He has two sons in Milan’s youth program, with Maximilian recently turning professional. It remains to be seen whether the Ibrahimovic legacy will be a blessing or a curse, but the genetic prerequisites are certainly excellent. Interestingly, Ibrahimovic has no ambitions to become a coach. He argues that the job gives you gray hair overnight. However, his appreciation for discipline and motivational leadership, shaped by legendary coaches like Fabio Capello and Jose Mourinho, hints at what an impressive coach he could have been. He describes himself as a “guardian angel” for AC Milan, especially during their title win in Serie A 2021-2022. In an era dominated by Messi and Ronaldo, the question arises whether Ibrahimovic has received sufficient recognition for his extraordinary achievements. In the Olympic football tournament, Jean Philippe-Mateta comes into focus with two decisive goals for Bayern Munich. Michael Olise, freshly signed by Bayern for £51 million, shines with five goal involvements at the Olympic Games, where he has developed into a key player. Spain remains on course for a double success at Euro 2024 and the Olympic Games following a 2-1 victory against Morocco. However, referee Ilgiz Tantashev had to end his participation in the tournament due to an injury. Among the American women, Emma Hayes appears as a strong leadership figure who proves herself despite a busy schedule. Her strategies are as creative as they are effective, and a female leader of a men’s team at the highest level seems possible in the near future. The Olympic semifinals are approaching, and the games promise to be exciting.