Ibrahimovic needs to put a swift end to ‘brand Zlatan’

It started early with Zlatan. When he slalomed passed the entire NAC Breda line-up faking shots and taking turns before firing home, football hadn’t just witnessed one of its greatest goals, but the birth of one of its greatest showman.

Between his 2004 Eredivisie win and his last league title with PSG in 2016, Ibrahimovic won all but one of a possible 12 league titles (Calciopoli aside) with the most impressive feat perhaps coming in an out of the blue win with Milan 2011, sandwiched between Inter and Juventus’ periods of dominance.

Ibrahimovic became one of Italian football’s greatest ever goalscorers, in a league that’s basically marketed itself on ‘look at us, we’ve got great strikers!’ And despite dominating European league football for nearly two decades, his lack of a Champions League win, and lack of performance in the competition, started to become a problem.

The move to Paris allowed number padding, along with legitimately helping create a European powerhouse, while some athletic goals that only he can do, namely the long-range bicycle kick in a friendly against England, helped perpetuate the myth.

And while a big time stint at Manchester United showcased his incredible levels as an athlete, professional, and standard-setter in the squad for younger players, his following move to LA Galaxy was where ‘brand Zlatan’ started to become beyond ridiculous.

Talking about himself in the third person, and cringe-worthy social media comparisons with a lion had put a slant on the end of his European career. But his move to the US saw things go from bad to worse, as he tried to build a rivalry with Carlos Vela of all people, whilst treating defenders such as Nedum Onuoha like they’d murdered his family.

Nedum Onuoha explains to @syarock what happened when Zlatan came into the @realsaltlake locker room and why he didn't accept Zlatan's apology. #RSL #mls #rsltid pic.twitter.com/RNH36Olpv7

— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) April 29, 2019

It all became a little too much, and on top of missing a European Cup, Ibrahimovic’s career was set to end as a marketing tool rather than that of a footballer, but now after returning to Milan, he’s grasped back the narrative.

Outside of the league win with Ibrahimovic and Max Allegri in 2011, seven time European champions Milan have become another big club making a complete mess of getting back to the top, reminiscent of pre-Liverpool Klopp and post-Ferguson Manchester United.

Now though, they’re beginning to show serious signs of improvement, only Atalanta have been better since the restart, and despite a top four finish being gone, Europa League football is right back on the cards after sinking to the bottom half.

Tuesday’s 4-2 win over Juventus, after trailing 2-0, was the culmination of some impressive work by coach Stefano Pioli, corresponding with Ibrahimovic’s arrival. Not only is he impacting on the pitch, but by all accounts his work and determination off it continues to act as inspiration for younger players.

But alongside the production (six goals and three assists) he’s brought the sideshow with him, with some more ludicrous quotes following his team’s excellent display against Juve.

Just Zlatan being Zlatan 👀

Would AC Milan have won #SerieA if he was there from the start of the season? 🇮🇹

— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) July 8, 2020

Pioli looked like a dead man walking before Milan’s 2020 resurgence, although he still seems set to be replaced by no nonsense godfather of German football, Ralph Rangnick.

And whilst Rangnick will likely love Ibrahimovic’s elite mentality, making himself a celebrity before the team will be a huge red flag for the man that masterminded both Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig’s astronomical climbs from nothing to the Champions League in recent years.

It’s hard to know where Zlatan’s heart lies after recently infuriating fans of boyhood club Malmo by investing in their rivals Hammarby, but what is certain is that Milan have saved the Swede’s career twice, and although things work both ways, one of Europe’s most decorated clubs might deserve more respect than becoming a tool for his book of quotes.

His title win with the Rossoneri in 2011 came after a disastrous, reputation damaging year, falling out with Pep Guardiola at Barcelona, and this spell comes after his self-awareness seemed to have evaporated in Hollywood, transforming into a cringeworthy retirement.

Should this form continue, and Milan return to where they belong next season, Ibrahimovic’s career could well end on a huge reputation restoring high. But now would be the time to do his talking only on the pitch, and let plaudits roll in by themselves, rather than making us and his teammates wish he’d stayed over the pond.