When Zlatan Ibrahimović, the powerful, electric, all-conquering Swede, signed on a free transfer for Manchester United on July 1, 2016, people questioned his age, his talent, his stamina, but no could interrogate his effort or commitment to success. Ibrahimović is known for his ego and would be the first to tell you that he thinks he’s a king, yet no one seems to mind Zlatan’s arrogance. Upon his arrival in Manchester, Ibrahimović noted “…I won’t be King of Manchester, I’ll be God of Manchester,” and he was immediately handed the coveted #9 shirt despite Anthony Martial already laying claim to it. Ibrahimovic is not one to shy away from the media, mind you, and those who criticize and question him only fuel him more. When referring to his time at Paris-Saint Germain, Zlatan said, “I came like a king, left like a legend.” And when his form at Manchester United came under the spotlight, he surmised, “I think I’m like wine. The older I get, the better I get.” While Ibrahimovic’s flair obvious is endless, it is important to evaluate his production when accessing his time in Manchester.
When the then 35-year-old first set foot at Carrington, United’s training ground, Zlatan’s impact was immediate. Players feared yet respected him, and the younger players viewed him as a mentor. Paul Pogba called him “The Big Man” and players like Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford would constantly eat lunch with him to learn more about the game and what it takes to be a star. He not only brought skill and experience into the team, but also leadership, knowledge, and a mentality that others yearned to match. So, when the team’s first competitive match came along, the Community Shield vs. Leicester City, it was no surprise that Zlatan scored the game-winning goal to take home his first trophy for the club. He went on to score in the team’s first game in the Premier League and by February 5th, Ibra had netted his 15th league goal and his 20th in all competitions. The personal results were there, but the team success, especially in the Premier League was not up to the typical Zlatan standards. After all, expectations at Old Trafford are always high, but with Zlatan they were even higher. He had previously stated, “If I had played in England I would have destroyed it, like I have everywhere else.” Yet even with “the God’s” fifteen league goals, United was struggling to crack the top four and tying games 0-0 much to the dismay of the Old Trafford faithful. The season wore on and Ibrahimovic continued to be in good form, but in a Europa League quarterfinal match vs. Anderlecht, Ibrahimovic picked up a serious injury that would leave him sidelined until November 18th – his 2016-2017 campaign had ended with “only” 17 goals Premier League goals. United went on to win the Europa League, Zlatan’s first major European trophy, guaranteeing that the team would return to the Champions League. However, questions loomed whether Zlatan would play for United again, or even play soccer again. Zlatan refused to accept money from the club while he recovered and was later re-signed by the team over the summer. The original timetable for the knee injury was a year, but Zlatan, who claimed, “Lions don’t recover like humans,” was back on the field after seven months. He only made five appearances in the 2017-2018 campaign and scored just once before getting injured and eventually having his contract nullified so that he could move to the LA Galaxy. The experience had been a short one and the impact had not been what Zlatan or fans had hoped, but while we too often evaluated players solely based on their performance and results, Ibrahimovic’s tenure must be assessed by including his impact off the field, just as much, if not more than what he contributed on the pitch.
In fairness, it might be futile to fully evaluate what Ibrahimovic meant to the club. Yes, he scored some big goals, including a game-winner vs. Southampton in the League Cup Final, but Ibrahimovic’s tenure at United will be truly recognized when the youngest generation of players on the team finish their careers. Instead of recovering at home in Sweden, or somewhere warm, Zlatan positioned himself within the team at Carrington so that he could remain close to the team and to the players that looked up to him, figuratively and literally. When Zlatan moved to LA on March 23rd, Pogba Instagrammed a post with the caption, “You’ll be missed lion, wish you all the best.” Even the club’s Instagram account had a featured post reminiscing, “It’s been a blast, Zlatan.” Perhaps Phil Jones summed up Ibrahimovic’s stint the best, saying, “Zlatan has been fantastic… not only he was an important player on the pitch, he was also an important person in the dressing room.” Zlatan infused professionalism within each and every player around him, young and old. It was apparent that they showed him the utmost respect and took his words seriously. But just as much as he showed the team what it takes to be a star, he ensured that success is not all about work ethic and drive. To Zlatan, it’s also about having an outgoing personality and finding humor in the game and with your teammates. Even with all the accolades and awards Ibrahimovic has racked up, he came to United with not just a goal of winning, but to inspire and to show others within the team how to play the game properly and how to be a leader. Yes, Zlatan scored goals for the club and yes, he sustained an injury that cut his time with the team short, but his lasting legacy will be missed. So, while Zlatan may be headed for LA, and while he may not have exactly been the King or God or Lion of Manchester, he used his time at the club to be a role model for players who will yearn to make a lasting impact on the Old Trafford faithful – and for that, us United fans must be grateful.
