Swedish soccer legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic, aged 41, has announced his retirement from an illustrious career in the sport. He leaves Italy’s Serie A as the league’s oldest-ever goal scorer.
Ibrahimovic made the announcement after his team, AC Milan, achieved a 3-1 victory over Hellas Verona in their final match of the season.
Expressing his emotions, Ibrahimovic addressed the Rossoneri fans at the San Siro stadium, saying, “It’s time to say goodbye to football, but not to you.”
The club had previously stated that they would hold a brief ceremony to bid farewell to the enigmatic star, as his contract would not be renewed at the end of this month.
Recalling his time with AC Milan, Ibrahimovic shared his gratitude, stating, “The first time I arrived, you brought me happiness, and the second time, you gave me love. You welcomed me with open arms, made me feel at home, and I will remain a Milanista for life.”
Throughout his 24-year career, Ibrahimovic played for nine different clubs, scoring a total of 561 goals for both his clubs and the Swedish national team, according to the International Federation of Football History and Statistics. He retires as Sweden’s all-time leading goal scorer with 62 goals in 121 international matches. After retiring from international football following Euro 2016, he made a brief return for Sweden’s unsuccessful World Cup qualifying campaign in 2021.
During a news conference, Ibrahimovic mentioned that he would take some time to rest before deciding on his next steps. He expressed the desire to reflect and enjoy his achievements before making any hasty decisions.
Ibrahimovic’s storied career began in Sweden with Malmö FF in 1999, followed by a move to Ajax in the Netherlands. He went on to play for prominent clubs such as Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, LA Galaxy, and returned for a second stint with AC Milan.
Throughout his career, Ibrahimovic achieved numerous titles and accolades, including domestic league titles in the Netherlands, Italy, and France, as well as a Europa League victory with Manchester United.
Despite battling injuries and limited appearances in his final season, Ibrahimovic etched his name in Serie A history as the oldest goal scorer at 41 years and 166 days during AC Milan’s match against Udinese in March.