Rossoneri Advent Calendar Day 11: Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the Nerves of Steel
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Photo credit should read GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/GettyImages
Zlatan Ibrahimovic played for AC Milan for just two seasons from 2010 till 2012 but managed to leave a huge impression during his third stint with a Serie A club. The Sweden international managed to win the League in his first year and go on to lift the SuperCoppa in his second as well as the Capocannoniere award.
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He was loaned to Milan from Barcelona for the entire 2010/11 season and he managed to form a destructive partnership with Alexander Pato and Robinho to deliver Milan's 18th Scudetto. Ibrahimovic was a mercurial player who scored almost freely but struggled with discipline as he was suspended multiple times for punching an opponent and swearing at an official. His work ethic and desire were a benchmark for the rest of the squad and he brought out the best in the players around him launching the likes of Boateng and Nocerino to overachieve off his play. His best aspect was his knack for scoring against Inter Milan, in his first Derby for Milan he scored the winner against Inter from the penalty spot. He would score the opening goal against them when Milan lifted the SuperCoppa trophy and even netted a brace when Milan lost 4-2 toward the end of the 2011/12 season. He was a fan favourite and Milan fans fell into despair after his unwarranted sale to PSG by Berlusconi as no striker has managed to pick up the slack almost a decade later. Ibrahimovic's leadership and scoring led Milan to one of the best league displays in recent history and we may see him back in red and black within the month.
Serie A: 2010–11
Supercoppa Italiana: 2011
Ibrahimovic scored lots of acrobatic goals and screamers with Milan but one of his best was winning a battle of nerves with Inter Milan goalkeeper Julio Cesar who attempted to psyche out the striker. Ibrahimovic kept his calm, slotted away and silenced the Inter crowd beautifully. Watch the highlight here or below.