‘Abhi toh thode saal aur khel sakte the’ – Fans react as AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic retires from football

After a career spanning more than two decades, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, one of contemporary football’s most decorated players, confirmed his retirement on Saturday. However, because Zlatan had managed to keep it a secret up until this point, everyone was shocked by his choice to hang his boots.

The contract of Swedish football great and beloved “Ibra” by supporters, AC Milan, expires in June. Instead of seeking a new contract, the 41-year-old has chosen to call it quits. He only played four times in the last year of his as a professional player because of several injuries.

After making the big revelation, Zlatan said nobody knew he had planned to do so during a press conference. He said, “Even my family didn’t know, because I wanted that when I announced it everyone heard it at the same time.”

Ibrahimovic started playing football in 1999 with his hometown team, Malmo, and went on to play for eight different clubs in seven separate leagues. He produced most of his best football with French superpower Paris Saint-Germain between 2012 and 2016, scoring 156 goals across 180 games.

Zlatan played for teams including Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, PSG, Manchester United, LA Galaxy, and once more for AC Milan during a lauded and prosperous career. Zlatan was one of the most prolific forwards who amassed over 560 goals in his career for club and country. The Swedish player ends his distinguished football career with five Serie A titles, four Ligue 1 titles, one La Liga title, and the Europa League. Ibrahimovic has retired from football, not Ibrahimovic has retired from football, is how the former attacker would phrase this news. 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic continued to play football into his 30s, giving the impression that his professional career would never end. The forward excelled in his thirties while playing for PSG and Manchester United, and he showed absolutely no indication of slowing down. 

Fans react as AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic retires from football: –