PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Seven-year-old Frans charmed all of Sweden with his Zlatan song.
But the boy’s first meeting with the idol was a big disappointment.
Now he talks about Ibrahimovic’s unexpected actions many years later.
He is Sweden’s foremost and most popular soccer player of all time. Zlatan Ibrahimovic had an incredibly successful playing career and won titles on a continuous basis in several different countries and big clubs.
Zlatan’s own song
“Ibra” is also the all-time leading scorer in the Swedish men’s national team and a great idol for many children and young people in Sweden. He has been praised by the vast majority, but in 2006 the Swedish world star received a truly unique tribute.
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Then Zlatan got his own song dedicated to himself, which the seven-year-old boy Frans sang together with the band Elias. “Who’s da man (Zlatan)” became a great success and summer plague throughout Sweden in connection with the WC 2006 in Germany.
Ibra’s actions
Frans also got to perform the song at “Allsång på Skansen” that summer. Today is Frans Jeppsson Wall 25 years old and an established artist, now he reveals his very first meeting with Zlatan and the idol’s unexpected actions towards him many years ago.
– I think it was right after Allsång at Skansen. I had flown home to Malmö Airport at the same time as the national football team had flown down from where they had played. It was a complete coincidence. We were like going home and then Zlatan and the entire national football team arrive, he says in a TV interview with Hänt.
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Frans was only seven years old at the time and was very excited to meet his great idol. Zlatan, who often had an irritated tone towards journalists, has always taken time for the children but this time offered a most unexpected treatment to the little boy.
– My father runs up to Zlatan, you know he’s had a long match, a long flight and is probably a bit tired of the media. Dad just: “Zlatan, it’s him the little kid, it’s Frans, it’s him singing your song”, and he didn’t believe it for five cents. He looked and just: “Hm”, went on, a disappointed Frans tells the entertainment site, but he would still get some vindication shortly after:
– Maybe a month or so later they had a match again and then we played at half-time on the field. Then we met him in the tunnel and he gave a little “wink” (with one eye).
READ MORE: Wayne Rooney says exactly what he thinks of Zlatan Ibrahimovic – in words that all Swedes should listen to
Many years later, Zlatan and Fran’s paths would also meet again. When he went to the final of Melodifestivalen 2016 with the song “If I were sorry”, Zlatan sent him a greeting.
– Good luck, greeted Ibra, who was then living in France.
What do you think of Zlatan’s actions against Frans? Share the article and have your say!
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