Just over a week ago, the long-rumored move of Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic to America became official, as the Los Angeles Galaxy signed the world-famous striker from Manchester United. Of all of the European veterans who have made cameos in America, Ibrahimovic might be the best — but just who is the man who's known to one and all simply as Zlatan?
You could try to explain Zlatan solely through his Twitter account. This is a man who bade Manchester farewell with a picture depicting him, dressed as an angel, arm-wrestling the devil. Arriving in Los Angeles, meanwhile, occasioned a video that depicted him as a lion, a comparison he's fond of making — as well as a full-page newspaper ad that read, "Dear Los Angeles, You're welcome. Zlatan."
You could also try to explain Zlatan simply through his legendary egotistical quotes. This is a man who told a reporter that "only God knows who will go through," about the 2014 World Cup qualifying playoffs. When the reporter said, "It's hard to ask him," Zlatan responded, "You're talking to him." He once said, "I can't help but laugh at how perfect I am." When asked what he got his fiancée for an engagement present, he said, "What do you mean, 'present'? She got Zlatan."
That said, there's more to Zlatan than his reputation as just another self-aggrandizing athlete. For one, he reportedly turned down an offer of $100 million from China to play in Los Angeles for $3 million spread over two years.
For another, look at his trophy case. In the 15 seasons spanning 2001-16, Zlatan's club won the league 12 times and finished runner-up in the other three — a span that included six clubs. Even when he moved to a seventh, Manchester United, and failed to win the Premier League, the Red Devils still took home both the League Cup and the Europa League as Zlatan scored 28 goals across all competitions — 17 more than any other teammate. If Zlatan was truly a me-first diva instead of an excellent teammate, there's no way he'd have been on so many dominant teams.
Zlatan's first weekend in MLS might sum up the overall Zlatan Experience. He didn't arrive in Los Angeles until the middle of the week, before the inaugural El Tráfico derby between the Galaxy and LAFC. Despite his late arrival, coach Sigi Schmid threw him onto the field with 20 minutes to go and the Galaxy trailing. Six minutes later, he launched a 40-yard screaming volley that flew over the keeper and dipped under the bar, tying the score. In the first minute of stoppage time, he scored the winning goal.
Twenty minutes, two of the most memorable goals in MLS history, and, as always with Zlatan, the win. And when it was all over, the man didn't begin to break character. He tweeted out a clip of the goal with a simple caption: "MLZ."
Short takes
