PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Two of Swedish football’s biggest icons ever.
But Henrik Larsson and Zlatan Ibrahimovic differ a lot.
Now “Henke” gives his honest view on what he really thinks about “Ibra”.
Together have Henrik Larsson and Zlatan Ibrahimovic formed a feared attacking pair in the Swedish national team. At club level, both have conquered Europe in some of the biggest clubs.
Zlatan & Henke
“Henke” was first out and became the model for how you can leave the suburbs in Sweden and reach all the way to being decisive in a Champions League final. He was hugely loved at Celtic and then proved his greatness as a player at giants Barcelona and Manchester United.
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“Ibra” has been more of a migratory bird but also extremely successful for long-established clubs such as Ajax, Juventus, Inter, Barcelona, Milan, PSG and Manchester United. He has won a total of 32 titles during his career and remained in world football right up to the age of 41.
READ MORE: Henrik Larsson gives Zlatan Ibrahimovic the most ultimate tribute ever: “What he can do”
Larsson pays tribute
Larsson’s and Ibrahimovic’s paths have crossed twice when they represented the same clubs in Barcelona and Manchester United. Henrik Larsson recently appeared on United’s own podcast to talk about his time at Old Trafford.
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Remarkably, Henke scored three goals in the United shirt – in three different tournaments: One in the Premier League, one in the FA Cup and one in the Champions League. But quickly, of course, the conversation slips into compatriot Zlatan, who came to United in the summer of 2016.
– When he signed for United, I was happy, because I knew they would get a very good player. Which he also showed. But unfortunately he got injured because otherwise I think he could have done so much more. But what he did at United was absolutely fantastic, says Henke in the podcast.
READ MORE: Henrik Larsson’s decisive advice to Zlatan Ibrahimovic – the words from “Henke” that perhaps decided everything
Honest about Zlatan
Next, Henrik Larsson gives his honest view on what he thinks of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
– We really have different personalities. But he is a very good person, if you get to know him. Of course there are two different sides of him, there is the one he is outwardly in the media and there is another in private. I have had a long relationship with Zlatan and he is a very good guy, I can’t say anything else, says the Swede.
Henke is also extremely impressed that Zlatan could have lasted so long and remained in top football over the 40 mark. Larsson himself put the football boots on the shelf as a 38-year-old in 2009.
– The way he talks, he does to motivate himself and he did it quite well. At 41 years old, he was still playing football and with that body. Completely unlikely, says Henrik Larsson in the interview.
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