Zlatan Ibrahimovic says he feels ‘panic’ when he thinks about retiring
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has talked about the idea of retiring, saying he feels ‘panic’ whenever thinking about hanging up his boots.
The 40-year-old continues to roll back the years at AC Milan after a long and entertaining career that began at Swedish club Malmo in 1999, showing no signs of slowing down just yet following eight goals in 18 Serie A games this season.
Ibrahimovic has turned out for clubs in the Premier League, Ligue 1, LaLiga, Eredivisie, MLS and Italian top flight – winning a total of 30 career trophies and a total goal collection of 510.
But the colourful and towering forward is not satisfied yet and wants to carry on playing ‘for as long as possible’, so long as his body keeps up with the vigours of the modern game.
‘I do feel a slight sense of panic at the prospect of retirement,’ he told the media, as reported by Goal.
‘I will certainly keep playing for as long as possible, as long as I can get results and am not suffering. I want to end my career without regrets, so I have to maximise my time.’
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Ibrahimovic has enthralled fans with his energetic displays, consistent performances in front of goal and entertaining behaviour on the pitch – sometimes bordering on the controversial.
He has previously squared up to Romelu Lukaku and Joey Barton on the pitch and has fallen out with team-mates such as Rafael van der Vaart and Nedum Onouha.
But after a career spent at such a high intensity, Ibrahimovic admits he will have a ‘strange feeling’ when it comes to an end – but added that fans will feel more sadness than him and that they will ‘never see the likes of me again’.
‘I know the adrenaline I feel at the moment will never be the same,’ he added. ‘We are programmed to wake up, go to training, return home and rest.
‘This goes on for 20-25 years, but one day I will wake up and have nothing planned, and that will be a strange feeling.’
‘I think the greatest sadness will be yours, as you won’t get to watch me play anymore. You should enjoy it now, because you’ll never see the likes of me again.’
