 | FACTFILE Born: 03/10/1981 Club: Ajax Position: Striker Debut: 31/01/01 v Faroe Islands |
A talented but often temperamental striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the one player capable bringing a touch of the unexpected to the Swedish attack. Born in Malmo to a Bosnian father and Croatian mother, Ibrahimovic joined his home-town club aged 14 and was quickly identified as an outstanding prospect.
He became Sweden's most expensive football export when he joined Ajax for �5.5m in 2001 and his form at the Amsterdam Arena has seen him linked with big-money to moves to AC Milan and Barcelona.
Despite his tall size, Ibrahimovic is also deceptively quick and possesses outstanding technique.
A fiery character on and off the pitch, he was given a five-match ban for elbowing an opponent in his first season with Ajax and has compared himself to Muhammad Ali, claiming only injury can prevent him becoming the world's greatest player.
Used sparingly by Sweden at the last World Cup, Euro 2004 gives Ibrahimovic the perfect opportunity to showcase his prodigious talents.
Did you know? He once said about Norway striker John Carew "what he can do with a football, I can do with an orange."
MMIX
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