I Am Zlatan Ibrahimovic

The words "footballer's autobiography" usually puts the fear of god into most people. For the most part you know what to expect - a dull account that has probably been ghost written. So thankfully I am Zlatan Ibrahimovic is far removed from the usual drivel from many a footballer. Its a well known fact that the English media has a rather poor opinion of Zlatan and for no real reason. Labeled as arrogant and troublesome (which he does admit to in his own words) as well as being a mercenary. How odd that a man cast as a mercenary has never played in England considering thats where many a mercenary is likely to make the most money! To be honest even those of you who follow the train of thought that he is over-rated etc would be won over by this detailed account of his rise to stardom. He pulls no punches about his early life in Sweden and how his upbringing was far from conventional. His parents separated when he was at an early age but never does he make excuses for his behaviour - he thrives on who he is. He is not afraid to offer his opinion on a vast aray of subjects (and individuals) which it must be said is very refreshing for a footballer. None of the 'woe is me' you might come to expect. Maybe at times the humour is unintentional but you can't help but admire the guy for breaking the rules and making it to the very top whilst forging his own path. Such a shame he has not graced the Premier League (as of yet). So as some may view him as cocky but after reading this you may discover that is a huge slice of self belief.

My interest in football is quickly waning. Modern football sadly has become boring ,with star quality and individual flair disappearing from the game. Emphasis is on defence and caution and players energies are spent negatively on closing down space and breaking up play, rather than constructing positive and imaginative attacking moves. Zlatan Ibrahimovic struck me as a player who does stand out from the pack so I purchased his autobiography for a spot of light reading during lonely week day lunch breaks. It is quite enjoyable. Zlatan is an interesting character who from his childhood has always not been afraid to be different and individual. Most people like that tend to get picked on and repressed by conformist and jealous peers but Zlatan's talent and work ethic allowed him to plough that difficult course and succeed spectacularly. The book takes us through his childhood and adolescence. He grew up in a rough Malmo council estate and was a bit of a tear away and occasional firebrand. He tells us of his penchant for stealing bicycles for example.The book then discusses his football career which blossomed rapidly. He won six Italian league titles with three different clubs. Everywhere he went he inspired his teams to league titles. Zlatan benefited from working with top managers. He respected and learnt a lot from Capello and adored Mourinho but Guardiola hated him at Barcelona and forced him to leave. This was the only real low point and disappointment in his career. His admiration for Mourinho also explains why Zlatan went to Manchester United ,even though he is basically the only quality player there now. I fear that Zlatan is a dying breed however. I don't see any younger players of similar quality and individuality coming through and in society generally few people try to stand out from the run of the mill pack. I Am Zlatan Ibrahimovic is an entertaining read. Pity the game in general is no longer the same.

There's a lot that can be said about Ibra (his nickname is Ibracadabra, but I've never heard anyone calling him it...) but he certainly has a lot to say too. His insights into Barca, Juve, Milan; his thoughts on Guardiola, Messi, Mourinho; even his thoughts on life and his interests. All of these are presented in such a way that is above all else, honest. His views and thoughts on his life, his colleagues come through in an uncompromising, unfiltered way very much unlike many of the corporate footballer bios that litter football fandom. The book starts with his career at Barca, before it delves into his early years, ending not particularly conclusively, with a to be continued.... The book also gives a good insight into the modern footballers experience in immigration and moving jobs. Not enough is really said about this, but Zlatan does so with good humour (the light-tone throughout the book is refreshing to say the least. He's no tactician but he enjoys his game) Credit must go to his ghostwriter and also, the translator. Without these I doubt Zlatan's input would be as potent as it is presented here.

Genuinely one of the greatest autobiographies you'll ever read. It is about 330 pages and I finished it in 4 sittings, I was that captivated by his story. It reads very easily and has a British-style language, using words like "blimey" and "bloody". For those who think he is this big ego, you soon become to see that it's just a persona Zlatan developed, that he is indeed a nice guy that just has a fighting, free spirit. What you take away from this story is you may have had a childhood lacking in physical items (foods, nice clothes, etc.) but a determination to find and follow your joys can lead to great things. Zlatan led his life his way, he was always true to himself, even in situations when most would have yielded and skulked out of the door with their head down and shoulders hunched. He went against the status quo because he had a belief in his own abilities. That in itself is the overriding theme I took from this book. As he says - Listen; Don't Listen. Believe in yourself.

A football bio that certainly has a certain charm. Not sure how ghostwritten it is, but you do get a feel of the real guy. Occasionally rambling, the books most interesting aspects are about his failed relationships with Pep Guardiola and Rafeal Van De Vaart. Sadly, whilst he does have an interesting rags to riches tale, it's hard to get too excited about repeated tales of arguments only heard from one side and nights in with his xbox. It also ends rather abruptly, during his season with AC Milan, so you can't help feeling there's much more to this story. I suspect the story would be better served as a biography, but for 3.99 it's a worthwhile few hours

Before reading this book, anyone who is not too familiar with this footballer should spend a bit of time watching him on YouTube, it will inform much of what is said in the book. If you have ever wondered what might have happened to some of the ne'r do wells you were at school with - but who were good at football - this is the story that might have unfolded. He has a phenomenal talent though and does not let you forget it, "I was awesome in that game" is a phrase peppering the book throughout but he was/still is and the book gives a real insight into how someone otherwise ordinary becomes this good and what makes them the players they are. There is rarely a dull moment in it, which is more than can be said for most footie biographies I have read. For a few quid, well worth the money and there are a few laugh out loud moments to enjoy and a few genuinely touching. He is definitely bonkers though!

If your at all curious about Zlatan then buy this book you will love it. I have found it so addictive to read I have barely been able to think about anything else. It is really well written, you can imagine the words coming out of Zlatan's mouth. I really enjoyed hearing his thoughts on other major names in the game, in particular around Pep and Jose considering his current situation in Manchester. I also found it quite inspiring and like the underlying message of believing in yourself even if you feel different from those around, stay true to yourself and don't be afraid to express your individuality. Not to mention the hard work, mental toughness and determination. I really hope we get an updated version after he finishes up at Man Utd, I'll be the first on the queue to buy that one. Hopefully it'll be full of stories of getting revenge over Pep. ;-)

I don't read many footballers' biographies/autobiographies but I thought I'd try this having read a lot of positive reviews. I'm glad I did. This is a really candidly written book which pulls no punches. I'd recently read the Pep Guardiola biography by Guillem Balague, which covers the falling out of Guardiola and Ibrahimovic; this gives a totally different account - interesting to compare the two. I find Ibrahimovic at times in this book endearingly and amusingly childish - he boasts about everything, from his driving to his prowess as a video game player - he's "awesome" at everything! It's very well ghost written - rather than the thoughts of Zlatan being interpreted by an author using the author's own phraseology, you have the feeling that Zlatan is talking to you in his own voice. Highly entertaining.