Profile: Manchester United’s Community Shield hero, Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Over the years, Manchester United stars of the past, and present, have witnessed dream debuts. Whether that was Marcus Rashford last season, Wayne Rooney in the Champions League in 2004, or even Ruud van Nistelrooy against Fulham in 2001. Now it’s time to add another name to that list.

United fans arrived in their thousands on Wembley Way for the Community Shield against Leicester City on Sunday with anticipation and excitement. Yes, it was Jose Mourinho’s first game in charge of United at a competitive level. But it was also the day they saw their new star striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

And it was a debut out of this world. His last-gasp winner earnt the Red Devils the first piece of silverware for the new season, ahead of their start to the Premier League campaign against Bournemouth on Sunday.

Shoot takes a look at the United star and what he can offer the title favourites ahead of the new season.

Ibrahimovic in action in Wayne Rooney’s testimonial – Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

Where did it all begin for Zlatan?

Ibrahimovic was born in October 1981 to a Bosnian father and Croatian Mother. He had a memorable childhood alongside his two siblings and three half-siblings after his parents divorced when the future star striker was only two.

He, even to his own account, didn’t have the greatest of upbringings however. His father drank regularly and he has admitted that he was a thief as a child – stealing bikes, sweets and even cars; although it was all to sell in his shop so he could afford the basics of life.

School equally didn’t treat him too well. From the less privileged part of Malmo, he could not fit into secondary school life.

His only release in life was football. From the age of six, when he received his first pair of football boots, Ibrahimovic adored the game. Nevertheless, he never saw it as a career. In fact, at the age of 15, he even considered quitting the game to take up work at the docks, only for his coach at Malmo FF to encourage him to stay. Later that year, the dream of professional football became a reality when he signed his first contract.

How did the early stages of his career go?

His initial career at Malmo FF appeared as if it wasn’t going to plan. He had an attitude as a youngster and had confessed to head-butting teammates during his early days at the Sky Blues, leading to a parent urging the staff for him to be kicked out of the programme.

However, by the age of 18, he became to realise that football could actually be a career that he could pursue. By 1999, he had joined the first team and featured on six occasions in Sweden’s top flight. Interest came from far and wide, including from a certain Arsene Wenger. The approach for his signature was declined, and he continued to perform in the Allsvenskan.

But, by 2001, Malmo manager Michael Andersson was resigned to Zlatan moving. In March of that year, a deal was agreed in the region of €8.7 million (around £7.4 million) with Ajax for his services.

However, under then manager Co Adriaanse, he found it difficult to find game time. But, after a poor spell in the Eredivisie, the Dutchman was dismissed and made way for Ronald Koeman. Under the former Barcelona star, he made his name with the “Sons of God”, netting 13 goals in the 2002-03 season as they finished three points behind rivals PSV at the top of the League.

Ibrahimovic in action for Ajax in a Champions League tie against Lyon – Credit: Offside Sports Photography / L’Equipe

What happened next?

Ibrahimovic made the move to Juventus in August 2004 for a fee in the region of €16 million. After injuries sustained by star striker David Trezeguet, the Swede made an instant impact in the side. His first season in Serie A was a dream as he scored 16 goals in 35 appearences. However, his role changed at the start of the 2005-06 season meaning that it was less about goalscoring. His statistics show that this didn’t go according to plan as he scored only seven goals the following campaign.

So, maybe it was time to make a move once again? In August 2006, Ibrahimovic made the move to Inter Milan for a fee of €24 million. It was a dream move for the Sweden international as it was Inter whom he supported as a little boy.

He became a regular in the Inter starting line-up under manager Roberto Mancini, and only a year later signed a contract to keep him at the San Siro until 2013. The next few years, however, was where he announced himself to the world stage. After scoring 17 goals in the 2007/08 season, he was named as the Serie A Footballer of the Year. The following season, he netted 25 goals to help Inter to a fourth successive Serie A title. Now he was one of the world’s best.

And that wasn’t the end of the big clubs Ibrahimovic played for?

FC Barcelona. The greatest club in the world. The greatest players in the world. By 2009, Zlatan was certainly one of them. He sealed his move to Catalonia in July 2009, for a fee of £59 million, as well as Inter being offered the services of Samuel Eto’o. After passing his medical, he was introduced in front of 60,000 screaming fans. Who could have predicted then that it wouldn’t go exactly to plan for Zlatan in Spain?

He made an incredible start to his life at Barca, scoring in his first five competitive starts for Pep Guardiola’s men – a club record. But from then on he struggled. 16 league goals was an unimpressive display for a man who blitzed Serie A the season before. Maybe it was just one step too far?

After his relationship with the Spaniard deteriorating and him continuing to perform poorly in La Liga, in August 2010, Ibrahimovic made the move back to Italy; this time not to Inter but nearest rivals, AC Milan. Here he became a key figure in Italian football again and 14 goals in 29 league appearences in his debut season guided Milan to their first Serie A title since 2004.

28 League goals the following season wasn’t enough to guide them to a second title in successive years, however was enough to win the Golden Boot.

The Swede enjoyed a particularly prolific spell in France with Paris Saint-Germain.

After proving himself year-in-year-out in Italy, it was time for a different challenge for the Swede. The challenge came in France when PSG came calling in July 2012. “I want to win every title,” were the famous words in his first press conference.

How right the Swede was in that respect. Despite being unable to lift the Champions League in his time at the Parc de Princes, he lifted every single other trophy with PSG becoming the main dogs in French football. 30 goals in his debut season made him a fans’ favourite, however his finest season was last year when he bagged 38 goals in only 31 league appearences. Now can Zlatan do it in the most competitive league of them all?

Why did he choose Manchester United?

With a serial winner of a manager coming to Old Trafford in the form of Jose Mourinho, the Red Devils seriously mean business this year and hope to win the Premier League title for the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013. Having already spent cash in the form of Sunday’s man of the match Eric Bailly and Armenia international Henrik Mkhitaryan, as well as being on the verge of completing a world-record deal for Paul Pogba, it is no surprise that they odds on to win the Premier League title.

Ibrahimovic has yet to conquer the Premier League, despite proving himself in some of the greatest leagues across Europe. Now, with him approaching retirement, he has an ideal opportunity to compete in the English top-flight and witness the traditional way of play. His ego may become infuriating if results are not going well, but he brings vast experience into United’s starting XI, alongside the likes of Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick.

Super Stat: Ibrahimovic also scored on his competitive debut in a PSG shirt back in August 2012.