Zlatan Ibrahimovic Statue Erected In Sweden
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been immortalized in a bronze status cementing his status as an icon for Sweden.
The Swedish star helped to unveil his own shirtless statue in Malmo on Tuesday.
The former AC Milan and Inter Milan player was built a statue near Malmo’s stadium where he began his professional career in 1999.
The LA Galaxy star posted a picture on Twitter – showing him alongside his statue and smiling to the camera while being surrounded by a large crowd of people – with the caption “We are Zweden!!!”
We are Zweden!!! pic.twitter.com/X1U2wysggN
— Zlatan Ibrahimović (@Ibra_official) October 8, 2019
The Zlatan statue standing nearly nine feet in height and close to half a ton in weight, was commissioned by Sweden’s football authorities to honour their record goalscorer who’s known for his spectacular goals and commanding responses to journalists.
The Swede hinted at the statue’s creation back in December 2016, while he was still at Old Trafford.
Ibrahimovic posted a photo on Instagram of the plaster cast of the work with the caption:
“When you come to New York you have the Statue of Liberty, when you come to Sweden you have the Statue of Zlatan.”
"When you come to New York, you have the Statue of Liberty. When you come to Sweden, you have the Statue of Zlatan." – @Ibra_official ? pic.twitter.com/NdGWbtj6U2
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) October 8, 2019
The Sweden International is on a break ahead of the MLS playoffs. The 38-year-old has found the net 30 times in 29 regular-season games in 2019 to help his team finish fifth in the Western Conference and is in contention for the league’s highest goalscorer this term alongside Carlos Vela.
His side are poised to lock horns with Minnesota on October 20 with the 38-year-old making it known sometime in the past that he isn’t a fan of playoffs.
“I think the system is sh*t,” Ibrahimovic told reporters in August. “How can you learn mentality if you only have to reach the playoffs?”
“You just need to win the play-offs, and that’s it. The results in each game are important, but here, if you come in seventh place, you make the playoffs and win, you are champion.
