PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has now ended his career.
Then Lars Lagerbäck comes forward with an unexpected revelation.
When, as the Swedish national team captain, he came close to ruining Zlatan’s unforgettable classic.
It was the coaching duo Tommy Söderberg and Lars Lagerbäck which released a young Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the Swedish A national team in the early 2000s. During the World Cup 2002, “Ibra” won his very first championship in the blue and yellow national team jersey and it was the start of a long national team career.
Lagerbäck pays tribute
It was a total of 62 goals in 122 international matches and with that Ibrahimovic is the Swedish men’s national team’s top scorer of all time. Lagerbäck remained in the national team until 2009 and had the honor of training Zlatan during his prime as a player.
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There are so many unforgettable memories to choose from, but when the former national team captain gets to choose one that stands out the most now that Zlatan’s career is over, Lasse doesn’t have to think very long. We are talking about the year 2005 and it is a very important World Cup qualifying match that is 0-0 for a long time before Zlatan steps forward and creates a powerful classic, see the video below.
– It is an away match against Hungary when he decides and scores an incredible goal in the first cross from almost no angle at all, Lagerbäck tells Radiosporten.
READ MORE: Henrik Larsson gives Zlatan Ibrahimovic the most ultimate tribute ever: “What he can do”
Zlatan’s dream goal
The dream goal against Hungary in 2005 is one of Zlatan’s most beautiful and significant goals in his national team career. But it was also close to Lars Lagerbäck ruining it completely – but was stopped at the last moment, see the goal below.
– We were not good in that match and in the second half Roland Andersson (assistant national team captain) and I sat and talked on the bench. I wanted to replace Zlatan, he wasn’t good but nobody in the team was good. Then Roland says: “No, don’t do that. Because he can decide”. And then he decides in the final minutes with an absolutely incredible goal, says Lagerbäck when he remembers.
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Lars Lagerbäck then puts his finger on what characterizes Zlatan Ibrahimovic best as a footballer when it’s time to summarize an absolutely unparalleled playing career.
– That pretty much describes Zlatan, even if he had a less than good match, he was able to do completely unique things. Not just goals but performances on the pitch like no other and the excellence that he shows there or this amazing goal at the Friends against England. You won’t find similar goals from anyone else, just this extra edge he has to do unique things, it’s absolutely fascinating, says the coaching veteran to the radio channel.
What is your best memory of Zlatan Ibrahimovic? Share the article and tell us!
READ MORE: Lasse Granqvist is now saying what all Swedes are thinking after Zlatan’s farewell to football
See the goal: