Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the Swedish striker for AC Milan, announced that he has made the decision to retire from professional football. The 41-year-old’s contract with Milan is set to expire at the end of June, and it will not be renewed due to a season marred by injuries. As a result, Ibrahimovic has chosen to conclude his extraordinary and fruitful career.
During his time at Milan, Ibrahimovic made a significant impact, scoring a total of 93 goals in 163 appearances across two separate spells. He returned to Milan in January 2020 and played a crucial role in helping the team secure the Serie A title last year, marking his second league championship with the Rossoneri.
The prolific striker, who amassed an impressive tally of 561 goals for both club and country throughout his career, was visibly emotional on the sidelines as Milan supporters unveiled a massive banner at one end of the stadium that read “Godbye” while chanting his name. With tears in his eyes, Ibrahimovic responded by forming a heart shape with his hands and blowing kisses to the fans.
After the match, a special ceremony was organized to honor Ibrahimovic. The Milan players and staff formed a guard of honor as he stepped onto the field, recognizing his remarkable contributions to the club.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic began his professional career at Malmo FF in 1999 before moving to Ajax Amsterdam in 2001.
From there, he embarked on a remarkable journey that saw him represent several top European clubs, including Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, and Milan.