SAN SIRO: AC Milan’s Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic said he had ended his playing career at 41 after a trophy-laden career at some of Europe’s top clubs.
According to Reuters, the extrovert Swede’s Milan contract expires at the end of June. It would not be renewed following a season plagued by injuries, prompting him to end a remarkable career.
Ibrahimovic arrived in Milan for his second spell with the club in early 2020, having won the Scudetto with them in 2011, and helped the club win the title again last season.
He said, “I say goodbye to football but not to you,” after being feted by the San Siro crowd after Milan’s 3-1 win over Hellas Verona in their season finale.
San Siro's final tribute to 𝙕𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙣 𝙄𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙝𝙞𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙘́ 🌟#SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/9XTYZ0QtNt
— AC Milan (@acmilan) June 5, 2023
Zlatan Ibrahimovic Thanks Milan Family
He said, “The first time I arrived, you gave me happiness; the second time, you gave me love. I want to thank my family and those close to me for their patience.”
The larger-than-life striker started his career at Malmo FF in 1999 and left for Ajax Amsterdam in 2001 before embarking on a journey that has included spells at Juventus, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Paris St Germain, Milan, and Manchester United.
Ibrahimovic has won countless domestic leagues and cups, plus a long list of individual honours but never got his hands on Europe’s elite club competition trophy, the Champions League.
Happy retirement, Zlatan Ibrahimović 🦁❤️ pic.twitter.com/xGd7wNQnEz
— Sky Sports (@SkySports) June 4, 2023
Sweden’s all-time leading scorer player with 62 goals in 121 matches, he quit the national football team after Euro 2016 but returned in 2021 for their unsuccessful World Cup qualifying campaign.