Zlatan Ibrahimovic won 28 trophies in four countries…but no Champs Lge
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has won a staggering 13 league titles across four countries in the last 15 years.
He’s also won a Dutch Cup, a French Cup, two French League Cups, a Dutch Super Cup, the Spanish Super Cup twice, the Italian and French Super Cups three times each and even a European Super Cup and Fifa World Club Cup during his time at Barcelona.
He’s won almost everything in the game.
Almost. That’s the word that stands out to Ibrahimovic.
There’s one trophy that has still eluded him — the Champions League.
The Swede — who has admitted he is “obsessed” with winning the competition — has only reached the semi-finals on one occasion, and faced quarter-final elimination eight times.
And that winless streak looks likely to keep on going with the striker reportedly keen on joining Manchester United who are likely to miss out next term.
SunSport takes a look back at Ibrahimovic’s Champions League heartbreaks.
Ajax
2002-03
Ibra only had one league title to his name at this point — having won the Dutch championship the previous season.
An Ajax side which included the likes of Rafael van der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder, Steven Pienaar, Cristian Chivu and — still — Jari Litmanen, drew home and away against Arsenal in the second group stage to progress at the expense of Arsene Wenger’s men.
At the quarter-final stage, they faced Carlo Ancelotti’s Milan — and battled out a sta lemate in Amsterdam.
Yet, despite twice equalising at the San Siro, Ajax succumbed 3-2 to a stoppage time winner by Jon Dahl Tomasson.
2003-04
A disastrous campaign saw the Dutch giants finish BOTTOM of a group which included the likes of Celta Vigo and Club Brugge.
Ajax won their home ties against both, but lost every other game.
It was time for Zlatan to move on.
Juventus
2004-05
Fabio Capello's men were hotly fancied to spring a surprise in Europe’s premier competition.
Juve waltzed through their group — winning home and away against Bayern Munich.
Next came Real Madrid, who they dispatched 3-2 on aggregate to advance onto the quarter-finals where they faced Liverpool.
Rafa Benitez’s men turned back the ages to produce a sensational first-half of football and raced into a 2-0 lead, but Fabio Cannavaro gave the Old Lady something to hold on to after the interval.
However, Liverpool held firm to draw 0-0 in Turin — and made it two quarter-final exits in three years for Zlatan.
2005-06
Again, Juve were many’s dark horses.
Another impressive group stage was followed with an away goals victory over Werder Bremen.
And it was Arsenal in the quarter-finals.
The Gunners overwhelmed their Italian rivals to win 2-0 at Highbury.
Pavel Nedved was sent off in Turin as a 0-0 draw ensured Arsenal’s progression to the semi-finals.
Inter Milan
2006-07
A match-fixing scandal saw the Bianconeri relegated and Zlatan flee to the biggest Italian team unaffected.
But the Super Swede would be unable to progress past the last-16 stage with the Milanese giants.
First it was Valencia — who went through on away goals in a fiery encounter.
A vicious post-match brawl saw Inter’s Nicolas Burdisso suffer a broken nose.
2007-08
It was English heartbreak AGAIN for Ibra — and the start of the criticism he never turned it on against Premier League teams.
Liverpool — or more pertinently, Fernando Torres — cut Mancini’s men down.
Marco Materazzi was controversially sent off, before the Spaniard scored two late goals to take a healthy lead to Milan.
Torres then netted the only strike at the San Siro — after Burdisso saw red this time — to make it 3-0 on aggregate.
2008-09
Jose Mourinho replaced Mancini — but still couldn’t prevent elimination by an English team for Ibra.
This time it was at the hands of Manchester United.
The reigning European champions battered Inter in Milan — but the Italian side clung on to a 0-0 draw.
Yet, despite dominating at Old Trafford — and Ibrahimovic missing a host glaring chances — Inter lost 2-0.
Barcelona
2009-10
The ultimate irony.
Ibrahimovic joined Pep Guardiola’s men to guarantee Champs Lge success — but was eliminated by his former club.
Barca left Europe breathless with their sensational football.
And swept Arsenal aside in the last-16 to hand Zlatan a victory over English opposition — he even scored two at the Emirates.
A 3-1 defeat at the San Siro in the semi-final first-leg by no means killed the tie.
And when Thiago Motta controversially saw red on 28 minutes, it seemed like it would a walk in the park for the Catalans.
But Mourinho produced a tactical masterclass as Inter went through — despite losing 1-0 on the night — with just 24 per cent of the possession.
Milan
2010-11
If Ibrahimovic does come to Prem, there will be a lot of teams he will harbour a grudge against.
Things didn’t work out in Barcelona, so Zlatan moved to Milan.
And in the last-16, faced Champs Lge debutants, Tottenham.
Harry Redknapp’s men were having the time of their lives — and produced one of the greatest nights in their history when Peter Crouch’s goal gave them a 1-0 win at the San Siro.
Spurs survived some intense pressure to draw 0-0 at White Hart Lane and eliminate the seven-times winners.
2011-12
It was doubly disappointing for Ibrahimovic as this was his only titleless season since 2003.
Again Zlatan was part of a side which KO’d an English team, as Milan beat Arsenal in the last-16.
But Barca stopped their former star’s march in the next round.
Lionel Messi and co drew 0-0 in Milan, before securing a 3-1 victory to reach the semi-finals.
Paris Saint-Germain
2012-13
Big things were expect of PSG — but not just yet.
The French side, equipped with David Beckham, impressed against Barcelona in the quarter-finals.
Ibrahimovic scored as PSG earned a 2-2 in the French capital with a stoppage time goal from Blaise Matuidi after Xavi had made it 2-1 with an 89th minute penalty.
Javier Pastore gave the Parisians a shock lead at the Nou Camp, before Pedro’s equaliser sent Tito Vilanova’s men through despite failing to register a victory over the two ties.
2013-14
More English heartbreak — and more Mourinho menace.
PSG drew Chelsea in the quarter-finals, and showed they meant business with a 3-1 victory at the Parc des Princes.
However, Demba Ba struck three minutes from time at Stamford Bridge to make it 2-0 to the Blues — and send Mourinho’s men through.
Again Ibrahimovic failed to impose himself when it truly mattered.
2014-15
PSG met Chelsea again — and this time the French side went through.
Despite Ibrahimovic’s red card at Stamford Bridge.
However, Messi, Luis Suarez, Neymar and co were too strong in the quarter-finals as Barca won 3-1 in Paris.
They followed it up with a 2-0 victory back in Spain.
2015-16
The nadir for Zlatan.
Manchester City became the SIXTH English team to KO the Swede with their quarter-final success.
Ibrahimovic scored and missed a penalty as Manuel Pellegrini’s men drew 2-2 in Paris.
And he barely got a kick in the 1-0 defeat at the Etihad.