Zlatan Ibrahimovic broke down in tears on the San Siro pitch as he announced his retirement from sport. The striker was present for AC Milan’s Serie A season-ending triumph over Hellas Verona, but was unable to participate due to injury. He was brought back onto the pitch after the final whistle, when he was greeted as a hero by the San Siro crowd, club directors, and his teammates.
Dressed suavely in a black shirt, Zlatan Ibrahimovic was obviously affected by the reaction he got as he fought to hold back his tears. As their idol bid farewell, emotional Milan fans were seen sobbing in the stands. Milan midfielder Sandro Tonali, who was caught brushing a tear away from his eye, was also unable to contain his emotions.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic hangs up boots, hints at future return to Milan
Zlatan Ibrahimovic was on the sidelines after a calf injury interrupted his season in April. The legendary Swede international offered an impassioned speech as club veteran Paolo Maldini presented him with a framed shirt. Ibrahimovic battled to hold back tears as he announced his retirement from professional football. The veteran forward said:
“So many memories and emotions inside this stadium. 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.
“I want to thank my second family. The players, the coach and his staff for the responsibility they gave me. I want to thank the directors for the opportunity they gave me. Last but not least, from my heart, I want to thank you, fans.
“You welcomed me with open arms and I will be a Milanista my entire life. It’s time to say goodbye to football, but not to you. It’s too difficult, there are too many emotions. I’ll see you around if you are lucky. Forza Milan and goodbye.”
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic may have implied subtly that he may return as a fan, coach, or board member in the future. The iconic striker’s career spans 24 years, including stints at nine different teams. He made his professional debut at Malmo, where he scored 18 goals in three years, earning him a transfer to Ajax.
In his debut season in Amsterdam, he helped the Dutch giants win the Eredivisie before leaving for Juventus four years later. Following Juve’s relegation due to a match-fixing scandal, the Swede joined Inter Milan, where he won three consecutive Serie A titles. He subsequently spent a brief time with Barcelona before returning to Italy on loan to AC Milan. That transfer was made permanent in 2011, and he scored 35 goals in 44 games the following season.
His efforts earned him another transfer, this time to Paris Saint-Germain, where he won four Ligue 1 titles in a row. After leaving PSG in 2016, he chose to join Manchester United, where he finally won a European title, the Europa League. His time at Old Trafford was equally brief, and he looked to be closing down his career with a transfer to LA Galaxy.
After two years in the MLS, he returned to AC Milan for a second stint, scoring eight goals to help the club win the Serie A title last season. While he did not have as much international success, he did score several memorable goals for Sweden. Off the pitch, Zlatan Ibrahimovic established a distinctive personality, with several times in the limelight.