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Zlatan


Personel Information:
Name: Zlatan Ibrahimovic
ST Nationality: Swedish
Date of birth: 03.10.1981
City of birth: Malmo
Family: Three brothers and two sisters
Height: 192 cm
Weight: 91kg
Marital Status: Single (?) Swedish Model...
Dream Girl: "Haven't met her yet"
Idols: Muhammed Ali and Diego Maradona
Car: Mercedes
Bench Press: 110kg
Shoes: Puma King
Favourite food: Chinese
Favourite book: Robinson Crusoe
Favourite film: Gladiator


Work:
Club: AFC Ajax
Signing Date: 01.07.2001
Contract Expiry: 30.06.2001
Squad Number: 9
Playing Position: Striker
Ajax debute: Ajax-Celtic, August 8 2001
National team debute: Sweden-Faroe Islands, January 31 2001
World Cup debute: Sweden-Argentina, June 12 2002
Signed From: Malmo FF
Signing Fee: £6 million
Previous Clubs: BK Flagg, Malmo Bollklubb, FBK Balkan, Malmo FF


Summary of Zlatan's life:
"Zlatan is an excellent striker. Big and strong but still excellent technique and probably one of the best dribblers around. Was Ajax's most expensive buy ever, when he was signed in July for £6 million. The most expensive Swede of all time." First 45 minutes of the season for Zlatan 12.07.2002

Ajax coninued their pre-season with a friendly against Achilles '12. As expected Ajax won an easy victory. The score: 11-0. As usual Rafaël van der Vaart played a good game and he also scored four times. Zlatan played the first 45 minutes but couldn't find the net. He was very close though, as he hit the bar after 35 minutes. Zlatan also made some good passes but his first game of the year was no success. He looked a bit tired and his mark must be good, but no more.

"Zlatan stays at Ajax" 11.07.2002

The rumores about Zlatan leaving Ajax for Roma should be over now. Zlatan's agent Anders Carlsson today told the press that Zlatan will stay at Ajax. - I spoke to the director of Roma today and we agreed that the best thing for Zlatan is to stay at Ajax. It would be stupid to Roma after a season that Zlatan mostly has spent on the bench in Ajax. I really believe in Zlatan, but to compete with attackers like Batistuta, Montella, Delvecchio and Totti is very hard, Carlsson says to fotbolldirekt.com.

Zlatan on loan to Roma? 10.07.2002

Zlatan's manager Anders Carlsson earlier this week denied that Zlatan was going to Roma. Now things are different. According to the Italian newspaper La Gazzetta Roma are going to hire Zlatan from Ajax. - We're going to meet people from Ajax next week to finish the deal, says Roma president Franco Sensi. - Zlatan is heading for a big future and this isn't going to cost us much, he continues. Sources in Italy from Swedish newspaper Expressen say that Roma are only buying another striker to calm down the supperters. The Roma coach Capello does not think that this is necessary as he finds Roma's strikers good enough. But he has also earlier said that he is very fond of Zlatan. During the next couple of weeks we will probably know where Zlatan plays next year. Stay informed with zlatan.tv.

Ajax played their second pre-season friendly of the year yesterday as they visited amateur team Be Quick. Ajax won easily with 14 goals to nothing. Best goalscorer was Mido who found the net three times. Zlatan and Trabelsi who joined the team yesterday were not ready to play yet. Next match on Thursday against Achilles '12.

Zlatan back in Amsterdam 07.07.2002

Ajax started their pre-season games yesterday with a friendly against amateur team Zeeburgia. Zlatan, who was still on vacation, did not participate in the game which Ajax won 1-8 (0-5). Zlatan and Tunisian World Cup player Harem Trabelsi will join Ajax on Monday as the teams leaves for a week-long training camp in De Lutte, the place for the Ajax coaches to increase training pressure.

In an interview with Sportbladet Zlatan point out what is really important for him at the moment; I need to play matches, he says. After a three-week vacation Zlatan now returns to Ajax. The transfer rumores are now gone and Zlatan will probably stay in Ajax. A source in Ajax says that Roma not were willing to pay as much as Ajax wanted for Zlatan. Zlatan had some problems to take a place in the Ajax first eleven last year and Koeman told Zlatan that he saw him as his third-choice striker. - I think I know how the first eleven will be. In the end of last season I told Zlatan that he was our third-choice central striker, but there can always be surprises. Zlatan could be one, Ajax coach Ronald Koeman said in an interview on Ajax.nl. Zlatan has also gotten a brand new agent recently. Anders Carlsson now represents Zlatan Ibrahimovic. - I felt I needed an agent. It's easier now that I only need to focus on the football and have someone else to take care of the rest. Ajax and Zlatan now continues with three friendly games next week beginning with Be Quick on Tuesday.

Zlatan caught for speeding 28.06.2002

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, at the moment home in Malmo on vacation, was caught yesterday by the police for dangerous driving in the cetral of Malmö. He drove his red Ferrari eventhough the cartaxes weren't payed. - I don't know what this is about. They won't let me drive my car, was Zlatan's only comment to Swedish paper Sydsvenskan before he was escorted away with the police. It was around six in the evening yesterday that Zlatan drove 70km/h on a 50-road. The police followed him several houndred meters and they also reported that Zlatan had driven "zigzag" between the other cars on the road.

Zlatan denies this crime. With that, a prosecutor will look at the police report. If Zlatan continues denieing he might be brought to court. Afterwords Zlatan commented the accident to Expressen. About the unpayed taxes: - It's not correct. The taxes are payed, they couldn't only see it yet. About the dangerous driving: - I didn't drive dangerously. They say that. It's not gonna be anything, Zlatan says. An eye witness saw the whole thing: - He drove kinda dangerously, like zigzag, and on the inside of the other cars. He was stopped and smiled at the police as they wrote him a note. I think he was a bit embarraced.

This wasn't the first time he was caught for speeding. Last June he lost his drivers licence as he drove too fast on his way home to a charity match.

SWEDISH TEXT

Mycket mys för Zlatan |2002-07-25 Igår spelade Ajax en av försäsongens många träningsmatcher. Det var Celtic med Henke Larsson i spetsen som skulle stå för motståndet i dagens bortamatch. Både Henke och Zlatan spelade från start.

Om ni kommer ihåg förra gången Ajax mötte Celtic så kanske ni kommer ihåg att det var Celtic som dominerade, och vann Champions-league kvalet med sammanlagt 3-2. Igår var det Ajax, och Zlatans, tur att dominera. Redan efter 8 minuter fick Zlatan visa upp sig. - Vi inleder riktigt bra. Jag får en boll på fötterna innanför straffområdet, skjuter och bollen går in vid målvaktens nedre högra hörn. Ganska snyggt faktiskt, säger Zlatan om sitt 1-0 mål. Även Johan Mjällby, som också spelat från start, berömde Zlatans mål.

- Det var ett bra målskott av Zlatan. Han visade fina takter, han är stor och stark och skicklig med bollen. När han spelar med starkt självförtroende kommer han att göra stor succé, sa Zlatans landslagskompis. Det dröjde heller inte länge innan nästa Ajaxmål kom. I den 10:e minuten, bara 2 minuter efter Zlatans mål, fick även Mido skrivas in i målprotokollet. Celtic var nu till stor del utspelat, och Zlatan och Mido fortsatte att spela mycket bra, både enskilt och tillsammans. Efter 22 minuter visade de prov på sitt samarbete. Zlatan nickar i målområdet och Mido smäller in bollen. - Jag får ett inlägg och försöker nicka bollen på mål. Det blir till en skarvning som Mido bara behöver sätta foten till, säger Zlatan. Efter första halvlek byttes Zlatan ut, han hade känningar i ena vaden och vågade inte fortsätta. Det ska dock, enligt honom själv, inte vara något allvarligt. Han ville inte riskera några skador i en träningsmatch. Även Henke gick ut i halvtid. Ajax gick nu på sparlåga, ganska självklart om man leder med 3-0. I den 58:e minuten fick dock Celtic ett tröstmål genom Chris Sutton, men mer än så blev det inte för skottarna. Den 2a augusti börjar Amsterdam Tournament, en inbjudningstävling arrangerad av Ajax. Årets motståndare blir Manchester United, Parma och Barcelona. Det är tur att Zlatan är i form.

Zlatan matchvinnare! |2002-07-18

Efter 12 minuter i Ajax match mot division 2-laget Einstand Haarlem slog Zlatan till. Hans första, av förhoppningsvis många, mål den här säsongen. Målet var också matchens första mål, och alla trode att nätet skulle dallra fler gånger under matchens gång. Men, tji fick dom. Ajax lyckades alltså bara vinna med 1-0 över Haarlem, som trots underläge i de flesta av de viktiga fotbollsfärdigheterna stod pall bra mot Ajax offensivlusta. Förklaringen till att målen uteblev kan ha varit att Ajax frågick sin vanliga taktik med tre anfallare, och istället bara hade en renodlad forward i startelvan. Zlatan fick förtroendet; och tackade med ett snyggt mål. - Jag bröt in från vänster och sköt in den i bortre gaveln, säger Zlatan till fotbolldirekt.com. Och Zlatan, som enligt flera holländska tidningar var en av planens absolut bästa spelare, var mycket nöjd med matchen. - Allt stämde verkligen i dag. Jag gjorde en bra match och tillhörde de bättre. Nu är det bara att hoppas på fortsatt förtroende...

7 mål för Ajax |2002-07-13

Idag spelade Zlatan sin andra träningsmatch för säsongen. Han började där vi har blivit vana att se honom, på bänken. Einstand AGOVV var det som stod för motståndet, eller hur man nu ska uttrycka det. För så mycket motstånd blev det inte. Målkalaset började redan i den 18:e minuten, Van Der Gun fick in bollen i mål. Därefter följde en liten lucka men i slutet av första halvlek var det dags igen. Strax efter att Zlatan blivit inbytt gjordes matchens andra mål, dock inte av Zlatan. Seedorf fick till ett skott och strax efter råkade Nuesink fösa in bollen i eget mål. 3-0 till Ajax var halvtidsresultatet. De reserver som inte redan blivit inbytta blev det när andra halvlek började. Av startelvan fanns bara fyra spelare kvar, vilket inte är så konstigt eftersom den huvudsakliga meningen med träningsmatcher är att Koeman vill testa sina spelare. Fler mål skulle det bli, Wamberto i den 59:e minuten, Ikeida i den 70:e och Van Der Gun i den 73:e. Det var bara en tidsfråga innan Zlatan skulle få göra säsongens första mål, trodde vi iallafall. Trots ett par bra försök ville inte bollen rulla in i nätet. Matchens slutresultat fastställdes på straff av Bergdolmo i den 83:e minuten, 0-7. Nästa träningsmatch är mot H.F.C. Haarlem den 17:e Juli.

"Det vore korkat" |2002-07-11

Nu har ännu en vändning kommit i affären Zlatan-Roma. Igår kunde vi berätta om att Roma ville hyra Zlatan, och förhandlingarna var enligt Romapresidenten Franco Sensi så långt gångna att det bara var detaljer mellan Ajax och Roma som återstod. Men hela affären dementeras nu av Zlatans nye agent Anders Carlsson. - Jag pratade med Romas klubbdirektör Baldini i dag och vi är helt överens om att Zlatan mår bäst av att stanna i Ajax, säger Carlsson till FotbollDirekt.com. - Det vore korkat att gå till Roma efter en säsong där Zlatan mest varit avbytare i Ajax. Roma har ju anfallare som Totti, Delvecchio, Batistuta och Montella. Jag höjer Zlatan till skyarna men att konkurrera med tre italienska landslagsmän i Italien vore inte så smart, fortsätter IMG-agenten. Och vi får väl hålla med om att det nog inte blir så mycket speltid för Zlatan i ett sådant gäng. Dagens nyhet i den begynnande såpoperan mellan Zlatan och Roma är alltså att Zlatan inte går till Roma utan stannar i Ajax ett tag till. Men, säker kan man inte vara i desa tider.

Tar det aldrig slut? |2002-07-10

Zlatan klar för Roma, Zlatan på väg till Roma, Roma vill ha Zlatan. Ett oändligt antal rykten är på väg att få sitt slut. Eller? Enligt den italienska sporttidningen La Gazzetta dello Sport är Zlatan fortfarande Romaaktuell. Det som tidigare avskräckt Roma från att köpa Zlatan är att priset varit alldeles för högt, de var inte villiga att ge 100 miljoner för vår svenska talang. Nu vill man istället hyra Zlatan av Ajax, och komma billigt undan. - Vi ska träffa folk från Ajax nästa vecka för att göra klart allt, säger Roma-presidenten Franco Sensi enligt tidningen. Man kan ju undra vad som kommer hända med Zlatan innan säsongen börjar, efter mycket om och men verkar det ju faktiskt som om han kommer att lämna Ajax. Men det har vi ju hört förut.

Zlatan shone against Celtic 11.07.2002

- I'm really happy with the game, Zlatan tells Sportbladet. Ajax did not use their regular 4-3-3 system but played with two attacker instead, Zlatan and Mido. Ajax were superior in the first half. Celtic had no chance against the Dutch champions and Zlatan started the scoring after only eight minutes. - We got off with a good start. I got the ball close to the penalty-area, fired a shot and the ball hit the the net. A nice goal, I must say, Zlatan commented. Also Celtic- and Swedish national team-star Johan Mjällby praised Zlatan after the game: - It was a nice goal from Zlatan. He showed good form, he's big and great with the ball. When he plays with a big confidence he will succeed, Mjällby says. Ajax continued their domination and Mido scored 0-2 after 10 minutes. Only twelve minutes later Ajax got their third of the day. - I tried to hit the goal with my header, but it became a perfect pass to Mido who only needed to put out his foot. Zlatan played a good 45 minutes and was very close to scoring another one but his shot hit the outside of the post. In the beginning of the second half he was substituted for van der Meyde. - In the beginning of the second I got a tiny injury and stepped off the pitch. Nothing serious, but as it only was a friendly-match we took no risks, Zlatan says. The game ended 1-3. Zlatan has been one of the reasons that Ajax has won their two last games and he hopes for a place in the starting-eleven next game against Norwich City on Staurday: - I hope I can play, Zlatan says. Whatch the goals (16,1MB) Striker-competitor leaving Ajax? 10.07.2002 Nourdin Boukhari signes a four-year contract. One of the players that Zlatan is competing with over the only real striker position in Ajax might now be leaving the club. Tottenham Hotspurs is reported to be very interested in the 29 year-old Greek Nikos Machlas. Machlas has 12 monthes left on his contract with Ajax, but might be leaving already before this season starts. £3.5 million is what the English club must pay Ajax to get Machlas' signing. Another reason to believe that someone might be leaving Ajax soon is that the Amsterdammers surprisingly yesteday bought attacker Nourdin Boukhari from Sparta Rotterdam. Boukhari is a very talented 24 year-old who can play as the 'number ten' as well as winger or striker. Boukhari signed a four-year contract with Ajax. It is very surprising that Ajax can afford to sign excellent players in only three days without selling any players.

ENGLISH TEXT

Zlatan gets new team-mate 22.07.2002

After weeks of fighting between English side Fulham and Ajax over the Vitesse winger Victor Sikora, the deal in sealed. Ajax won the battle and Sikora will be Ajax' first reinforcement this season. Coach Koeman has showed that he is very fond of the 23-year old. 4,5 million Euros is what Ajax has payed and Sikora has signed a four year contract. Sikora might be in the team already on Wednesday as Ajax plays Celtic FC away.

Sikora might not be the only reinforcement as Liverpool now has let former Ajacied Jari Litmanen go for free. Ajax has already earlier talked to Litmanen but the stars' high wage demands stopped the deal. But now that he is free a transfer to Ajax might be possible again.

First goal of the season 18.07.2002

After several cross-bar and post hits Zlatan finally found the net. He scored the only goal in Ajax freindly against Haarlem (1-0). Zlatan was one of the best players on the pitch and this is how he commented the game to fotbolldirekt.com: - Everything went great today. I did a good match and was one of the better players today. The goal came after only 12 minutes of play. - I came in from the left and shot the ball into the right side of the net, Zlatan said. Eventhough Zlatan played a good game he could have scored more as he had some great chances. Ajax continues with a game against Emmen on Saturday.

"Ibrahimovic is an excellent player" 15.07.2002

As Roma started their preparations for the next season coach Capello confirmed what Zlatan's manager Anders Carlsson earlier stated; Zlatan will not play for Roma this season. - I think that Ibrahimovic is an excellent player, but we have lots of attackers and we don't need any more, Capello said.

Ajax also played their fourth game of the season as they defeated AGOVV with seven goals to nothing. Zlatan played 55 minutes but didn't have any scoring-luck. He hit the post twice with two very good shots.

First 45 minutes of the season for Zlatan 12.07.2002

Ajax coninued their pre-season with a friendly against Achilles '12. As expected Ajax won an easy victory. The score: 11-0. As usual Rafaël van der Vaart played a good game and he also scored four times. Zlatan played the first 45 minutes but couldn't find the net. He was very close though, as he hit the bar after 35 minutes. Zlatan also made some good passes but his first game of the year was no success. He looked a bit tired and his mark must be good, but no more.

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