PHOTO: Bildbyrån
He has been both teammate and coach of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Marcus Allbäck therefore knows the Swedish superstar very well.
Now the former national team striker admits what he thinks of “Ibra”.
A whole 20 years in world football was too much Zlatan Ibrahimovic during an absolutely fantastic football career. Over the years, many Swedes have had divided opinions about “Ibra”, but it is not possible to turn a blind eye to his incredible track record.
Zlatan’s success
The tall Skåne from Rosengård has conquered big club after big club around Europe and won titles with all club addresses in the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, France and England. In the Swedish national team jersey, Zlatan will also forever be remembered as one of the greatest of all time.
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Ibrahimovic has been awarded a total of 12 Ballon d’Or as Sweden’s best footballer and broke the goal record in the national team with an impressive 62 goals in 122 international matches. Someone who has been close to Zlatan both as a teammate in the national team and also as a coach in Blågult is Marcus Allbäck.
Allbäck admits
After his playing career, he took over as assistant national team captain on the sidelines Erik Hamren. And was immediately met with criticism from the national team star Zlatan Ibrahimovic who did not think it was “serious with Marcus Allbäck as an assistant”.
– It has been written that I do not have a good relationship with him, said “Mackan” in a statement 13 years ago.
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Many years later, Allbäck admits what the relationship is really like with former attacking colleague Zlatan. As most people got the impression that they didn’t like each other very much.
– Which is completely incorrect. Unfortunately, it seemed that some believed it in the beginning, perhaps mostly because we are two very different people. We have always had a good relationship that has only gotten better over the years, he says in an interview with Sportbladet.
READ MORE: Clear criticism of Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s new job – Fabio Capello says what many are thinking: “That’s the problem”
Ibrahimovic angry
Allbäck also gets to tell with honest words what it was like to be a coach for Zlatan, who was then the team captain and the great leader in the Swedish national team.
– It was a unique situation. Sweden has never had a player at that level. It was natural that everything revolved, was controlled, via or around him. You mustn’t forget that it was he who decided most of the matches, he says in the interview and recalls.
– Zlatan’s voice in the national team was not only strong, it was ace strong. He could get mad because he didn’t get a pass when he was in a good position and then he would speak up. But sometimes the others just suited him – and then he could scold them about that too, haha.
Today both Marcus Allbäck and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have finished their football careers and they are still in contact with each other.
– Yes, a little grand. We hear from each other from time to time, says Allbäck.
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