Dare to Zlatan...
JOE has recently brought you some of the reasons why we think the supremely talented and bearded duo of
Xabi Alonso and
Andrea Pirlo could be the coolest footballers alive, but one man could challenge them.
Ladies and gentlemen, may we present to you the one and only... Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
1) Goals, goals and more ridiculous goals
His latest compilation is quite special.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCoKaBSwT5Y
Clip via -martijn jansen
But this one against England deserves its own special mention...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck5P30zC3Z0
Clip via - Emma Lagu
...it's still not our favourite Zlatan goal though. This is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgqsaDnsEq8
Clip via - Peasant Marichlow
2) He really is a sound bloke
Take a look at Zlatan giving this young pitch invader a hug and his jersey.
Gif via -
Bleacher Report
This nice gesture is nothing in comparison to what he did for the
Swedish learning disability team though.
After finding out that the team's participation in the World Cup was in jeopardy, due to a lack of finances, the kind hearted striker gave 350,000 Swedish Krona (40,000 euros) of his own money to help pay for flights, hotels and living expenses. Gent.
3) His assists are special also
4) These genius quotes from his book
On Pep Guardiola -“Then Guardiola started his philosopher thing. I was barely listening. Why would I? It was advanced bullshit about blood, sweat and tears, that kind of stuff.”
On Jose Mourinho - "Mourinho is a big star…He’s cool. The first time he met [my wife] he whispered to her: ‘Helena, you have only one mission. Feed Zlatan, let him sleep, keep him happy!’ The guy says what he wants. I like him.”
On Mario Balotelli - “I like fireworks too, but I set them off in gardens or kebab stands. I never set fire to my own house.”
His book is a great read, although most chapters essentially end with "We had an argument/problem and I was right and or saved the day."
5) His temper seems to have chilled
He had controversies in the past, like his runs-in with former teammates Rafael Van der Vaart and Oguchi Onyewu, but he seems to have mellowed with age.
This gesture to an opposing 'keeper after he made a howler is a really nice touch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoEQrsIQVD8
He also gave his P.S.G teammates brand new Xbox Ones after he was made the console's ambassador.
We're certain Van der Vaart wouldn't have got one though.
6) He is mates with some really cool people. Here he is...
Having the craic with Jurgen Klopp.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12TqKTG3Kn8
Clip via - Boaz Sachs
Getting bromantic with Jose Mourinho.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUIxFTyqIM8
Clip via - MrShifty08
Giving Novak Djokovic a run for his money.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2SsiXJiVy4
Clip via - NimitzWorldHD
Having some Italian chats with the lovely Manuella Spinelli.
7) It's not arrogant if you can back it up
This is one of the greatest interviews ever.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8qVE_gmjok
Clip via - CNNInternational
On missing World Cup 2014 "One thing is for sure, a World Cup without me is nothing to watch so it is not worthwhile to wait for the World Cup.”
After being asked who will win Euro 2012 straight after Sweden were knocked out. "I don't give a shit who wins Euro 2012, I'm going on a holiday."
This tweet to Cristiano Ronaldo
8) Trophies won
6 Scudettos (Calciopoli took two of these), 2 Dutch Titles, 1 La Liga, 1 Ligue 1, the Dutch Cup, 3 Supercoppa Italiana, 1 Super Cup, 1 Club World Cup, 1 Coupe de la Ligue and an endless list of personal accolades.
9) This Panenka
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IL4M8-QuI_0
Clip via - Ligue1official
10) No one else gives quotes quite like him
The striker is fluent in five languages (Swedish, Bosnian, English, Spanish, Italian) and some of his quotes down the years are absolutely priceless.
On being marked by Stephane Henchoz, “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 his trial at Arsenal, “Arsene Wenger asked me to have a trial with Arsenal when I was 17. I turned it down. Zlatan doesn’t do auditions.”
On John Carew, “What Carew does with a football, I can do with an orange.”
When asked what he got his wife for her birthday, ”Nothing, she already has Zlatan.”
On himself, “An injured Zlatan is a pretty serious thing for any team."
We agree.
