LA Galaxy Sign Zlatan Ibrahimović
LOS ANGELES (Friday, March 23, 2018) – The LA Galaxy announced today that forward Zlatan Ibrahimović has joined the club. The Swedish striker joins the five-time MLS Cup champions after a decorated career internationally and throughout Europe, where he has starred for Ajax Amsterdam, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and his native Sweden while accumulating over 450 goals for club and country.
Ibrahimović was added to the LA Galaxy roster using Targeted Allocation Money (TAM), will occupy an International roster spot and will officially join the roster pending receipt of a P1 Visa and ITC. For all MLS roster rules and regulations, click here.
Ibrahimović is scheduled to arrive in Los Angeles next week; A full schedule with details of Ibrahimović’s first training and media availability as a member of the LA Galaxy will be announced early next week.
“Coming to play in the United States, it is only fitting for me to join the most successful team in Major League Soccer, the LA Galaxy,” said Ibrahimović. “I am excited to join a club with a winning legacy that has embodied soccer in Los Angeles for over 20 years. I would like to thank everyone at the club for making it possible to play for the LA Galaxy. I am looking forward to joining my teammates, playing at StubHub Center in front of our fans and helping our team compete this season.”
Throughout his career, Ibrahimović has won 11 league titles in four separate countries while representing Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, Ajax Amsterdam, AC Milan and Inter Milan in addition to leading his clubs to numerous other major championships, including the UEFA Europa League, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, Italian Super Cup (3x), French League Cup (3x), French Super Cup (3x), a Dutch Super Cup and Dutch Cup, among others. Overall, Ibrahimović has scored 421 goals for club, 62 goals for the Sweden National Team and tallied 159 assists in 730 club games.
“Adding one of the finest goal scorers in this sport’s history to our roster will tremendously help our club in the hunt for a sixth MLS Cup,” said LA Galaxy Head Coach Sigi Schmid. “As one of the winningest players of all time, we believe he’ll have a very positive impact on our team. We are confident that Zlatan can be one of the most dangerous strikers in our league and we are excited to integrate him into our club.”
Ibrahimović began his career with his hometown club, Malmö FF of Sweden, making his professional debut in 1999 at the age of 17. After helping Malmö earn promotion to the Swedish first division the following season, he was signed by Ajax for a club record transfer fee. In three campaigns with Ajax, Ibrahimović garnered further European recognition as he helped the Dutch side to two Eredivisie titles while shining in two UEFA Champions League campaigns. Sold to Juventus in August 2004, Ibrahimović scored 16 goals in his first season with the Bianconeri. The following year, Ibrahimović earned his first of 11 consecutive Guldbollen Awards, an annual prize recognizing Sweden’s best male soccer player.
“The LA Galaxy are a club that have always attracted the biggest names and the most talented players in the world,” said AEG President and CEO Dan Beckerman. “Zlatan’s signing is evidence of AEG’s and LA Galaxy’s persistent, global pursuit of top athletes that lift the profile of our club, our league and our sport in this country. As the most successful club in Major League Soccer history, the LA Galaxy are the perfect fit for one of the most decorated soccer players in the sport’s history.”
Ibrahimović made the move to FC Internazionale in 2006 and began his successful stint at the club by being named Serie A Player of the Year in his first season. In three seasons, he totaled 66 goals in 117 appearances and capped his three-year stay at Inter with 25 goals to claim Italy’s 2008-09 scoring title. He lifted the league title in each year with Inter. Ibrahimović made the move to Barcelona in 2009, scoring 22 goals across all competitions and collecting a La Liga title in his one season there. He returned to Italy in August 2010 with AC Milan, reinstating himself as one of the league’s most dominant scorers. He helped Milan to the Serie A title in his first year and followed suit with another Italian scoring title in the 2011-12 campaign.
“Signing Zlatan is a testament to the LA Galaxy brand and our incomparable success in MLS since 1996,” said LA Galaxy President Chris Klein. “In addition to our rich history, we continue to invest in building a future that will see us continue to reach new achievements. We aggressively pursued Zlatan and are extremely pleased to add him to our team.”
In what would be his longest stay with a European side, Ibrahimović made the move to France in 2012, signing with Paris Saint-Germain in July of that year. Ibrahimović lifted the club to European prominence in his time there, winning the league title in each of his four seasons in Paris in addition to nine other major trophies. He won the Ligue 1 scoring title in three of his four seasons with PSG, highlighted by his final campaign with the club, in which he scored 38 goals in 31 league appearances. In July 2016, Ibrahimović was signed by English giants Manchester United, scoring 17 goals in 28 league appearances during the 2016-17 campaign and helping the team to a UEFA Europa League Championship just last year.
In 2001, Ibrahimović debuted with the Swedish National Team at the age of 19 and has since earned recognition as the best soccer player in the country’s history. An 11-time Guldbollen winner, Ibrahimović recorded 62 goals in 114 appearances for his country. He appeared for Sweden in multiple World Cups (2002, 2006) and UEFA European Championships (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016). In 2013, Ibrahimović won FIFA’s Puskás Award. Ibrahimović retired from international soccer as the nation’s all-time leading goalscorer following Sweden’s exit in the 2016 UEFA European Championships.
The LA Galaxy are 1-1-0 through their first two matches of the 2018 MLS Regular Season. The Galaxy are in action this weekend, taking on Vancouver Whitecaps FC at 7 p.m. PT on Saturday, March 24 at BC Place (Spectrum SportsNet).
LA Galaxy Season Ticket Memberships for the 2018 Major League Soccer season are now available. Galaxy fans can go to www.lagalaxy.com/since96to secure their 2018 LA Galaxy Season Ticket Memberships, beginning as low as just $17 per match. In addition to visiting www.lagalaxy.com/since96, fans can secure 2018 Season Ticket Memberships at StubHub Center by visiting the Galaxy booth atop Section 104 at every LA Galaxy home game. Fans can also call 1.877.3GALAXY (342.5299) and press 2 when prompted to secure Season Ticket Memberships.
Transaction: LA Galaxy sign Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimović using Targeted Allocation Money (TAM)
PLAYER BIO
Name: Zlatan Ibrahimović
Position: Forward
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 209 lbs.
Born: 10/03/1981
Age: 36
Last Club: Manchester United (England)
Birthplace: Malmö, Sweden
Nationality: Sweden
SEASONS, AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS
ZLATAN FOR CLUB
MALMÖ FF (1999-2001)
1999: 1 Allsvenskan league goal
2000-01: 12 Superettan league goals
2001-02: 3 Allsvenskan league goals
AJAX (2001-2004)
2001-02: 21 league appearances, 6 league goals, 2 UCL appearances, 2 UEFA Cup appearances, 2 UEFA Cup goals, 1 Dutch Cup goal
2002-03: 25 league appearances, 13 league goals, 13 UCL appearances, 5 UCL goals, 3 Dutch Cup goals
2003-04: 22 league appearances, 13 league goals, 8 UCL appearances, 2 UCL goals
2004-05: 3 league appearances, 3 league goals
Totals (across all competitions): 110 appearances, 48 goals
2x Eredivisie League Champion (2001-02, 2003-04)
Dutch Super Cup Winner (2002)
KNVB Cup: 2001-02
JUVENTUS (2004-2006)
2004-05: 35 league appearances, 16 league goals, 10 UCL appearances
2005-06: 34 league appearances, 7 league goals, 9 UCL appearances, 3 UCL goals
Totals (across all competitions): 92 appearances, 26 goals
2x Serie A Champion (2004-05, 2005-06, both titles later vacated from Juventus)
FC INTERNAZIONALE (2006-2009)
2006-07: 30 league appearances, 15 league goals, 7 UCL appearances
2007-08: 22 league appearances, 17 league goals, 7 UCL appearances, 5 UCL goals
2008-09: 35 league appearances, 25 league goals, 8 UCL appearances, 1 UCL goal, 3 Coppa Italia appearances, 3 Coppa Italia goals
Totals (across all competitions): 117 appearances, 66 goals
3x Serie A Champion (2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09)
Serie A Player of the Year (2006-07)
2x Supercoppa Italiana Champion (2006, 2008)
Serie A Top Scorer (2008/09)
FC BARCELONA (2009-2010)
2009-10: 29 league appearances, 16 league goals, 10 UCL appearances, 4 UCL goals, 1 Copa del Rey goal, 1 Supercopa de España goal
Totals: (across all competitions): 46 appearances, 22 goals
La Liga Champion (2009-10)
Supercopa de España Winner (2009, 2010)
FIFA Club World Cup Winner (2010)
UEFA Super Cup Winner (2009-10)
AC MILAN (2010-2012)
2010-11: 29 league appearances, 14 league goals, 7 UCL appearances, 4 UCL goals, 3 Coppa Italia goals
2011-12: 32 league appearances, 28 league goals, 8 UCL appearances, 5 UCL goals, 1 Coppa Italia goal, 1 Supercoppa Italiana goal
Totals: 85 appearances, 56 goals
Serie A Champion (2010-11)
Supercoppa Italiana Champion (2011)
Serie A Top Scorer (2011-12)
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (2012-2016)
2012-13: 34 league appearances, 30 league goals, 9 UCL appearances, 3 UCL goals, 2 Coupe de France goal
2013-14: 33 league appearances, 26 league goals, 8 UCL appearances, 10 UCL goals, 3 Coupe de France goals, 2 Coupe de la Ligue goals
2014-15: 24 league appearances, 19 league goals, 6 UCL appearances, 2 UCL goals, 4 Coupe de France goals, 3 Coupe de la Ligue goals, 2 Trophée des Champions goals
2015-16: 31 league appearances, 38 league goals, 10 UCL appearances, 5 UCL goals, 7 Coupe de France goals
Totals: 180 appearances, 156 goals
4x Ligue 1 Champion (2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16)
2x Coupe de France Champion (2014-15, 2015-16)
3x Coupe de la Ligue Winner (2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16)
3x Trophée des Champions Winner (2013, 2014, 2015)
3x Ligue 1 Top Scorer (2012/13, 2013/14, 2015-16)
MANCHESTER UNITED (2016-2018)
2016-17: 28 league appearances, 17 league goals, 11 Europa League appearances, 5 Europa League goals, 1 FA Cup goal, 4 EFL Cup goals, 1 Community Shield goal
2017-18: 5 league appearances, 1 UCL appearance, 1 EFL Cup goal
Totals: 53 appearances, 29 goals
Europa League Winner (2016-17)
EFL Cup Winner (2017)
FA Community Shield Winner (2017)
ZLATAN FOR COUNTRY
SWEDEN (2001-2016)
62 goals, 114 appearances
Sweden’s all-time leading goalscorer
World Cups: 2002, 2006
UEFA European Championships: 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016
11x Guldbollen Award Winner (2005-2016)
2013 FIFA Puskás Award Winner
Debuted for Sweden National Team in January 2001
LEAGUE TITLES
SPAIN – LA LIGA (1)
2009-10 – FC Barcelona
ITALY – SERIE A (4)
2006-07 – FC Internazionale
2007-08 – FC Internazionale
2008-09 – FC Internazionale
2010-11 – AC Milan
FRANCE – LIGUE 1 (4)
2012-13 – Paris Saint-Germain
2013-14 – Paris Saint-Germain
2014-15 – Paris Saint-Germain
2015-16 – Paris Saint-Germain
NETHERLANDS – EREDIVISIE (2)
2003-04 – Ajax Amsterdam
2001-02 – Ajax Amsterdam
ADDITIONAL TITLES
UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE (1)
2016-17 – Manchester United
EFL CUP (1)
2017 – Manchester United
FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP (1)
2010 – FC Barcelona
UEFA SUPER CUP (1)
2009-10 – FC Barcelona
SPANISH SUPER CUP (2)
2009 – FC Barcelona
2010 – FC Barcelona
ITALIAN SUPER CUP (3)
2011 – AC Milan
2008 – FC Internazionale
2006 – FC Internazionale
FRENCH LEAGUE CUP (3)
2015-16 – Paris Saint-Germain
2014-15 – Paris Saint-Germain
2013-14 – Paris Saint-Germain
FRENCH CUP (2)
2015-16 – Paris Saint-Germain
2014-15 – Paris Saint-Germain
FRENCH SUPER CUP (3)
2015 – Paris Saint-Germain
2014 – Paris Saint-Germain
2013 – Paris Saint-Germain
ENGLISH SUPER CUP (1)
2017 – Manchester United
DUTCH SUPER CUP (1)
2002 – Ajax Amsterdam
DUTCH CUP (1)
2001 – Ajax Amsterdam
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