Zlatan’s Evolution – The Rogue Becomes a Leader

The troublesome genius has become a leader, does this mean European success?

Ibrahimovic's recent form has brought about superlatives from the media who are now putting him up there with the likes of Messi and Ronaldo. Incredible isn’t it that at 32 years old, Zlatan appears to be getting the credit for what he has always done? 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is arguably the greatest ‘individual’ talent in the modern game. His skill level, creativity & the ability to do the ‘unorthodox’ has put him up there with the best ever talents in world football. Yet something has been missing throughout Zlatan's career which is becoming more apparent and important for his status and success. The Whitehouse Address discusses.

The way people are now talking of Ibrahimovic you would think he was a new young ‘wunderkid’ who has emerged on the scene. Adulation for some of his goals, whether a standing 6ft back heel volley or a thunderbolt from 35 yards have dominated social media these past few days. Yet this is Zlatan. This is what he does. 

His career has shown a consistency in goal scoring, roughly mid teens yet always something akin to the spectacular. He has been consistent year in year out across Europe; in Holland, Italy, France, even Spain. The player is very special. Yet why is not regarded higher? 

Sometimes great players are not valued until they retire, in the case of Zlatan however it appears the football world has grown bored of Messi and Ronaldo and is looking for a ‘new’ superstar, Zlatan is seemingly the one chosen. For many he is world class, without question. Yet for others there is a dubiousness about his ‘level’. Yes he is a talented individual with skill, flair and creativity, yet is he world class?

This blog had argued for one of the Manchester sides to go in for Zlatan this past summer for because of his world class talent, yet also because of his new found maturity. Yes, this blog believes Zlatan is a world class player, yet he has only become one since his time at Barcelona.

The frustrations of the term 'world class' 

That term ‘world class’ has been brought up much these past few months. It is banded about so casually that it has lost its weight and value. To be regarded as world class means the best, and there are not many of those around.

For me there are probably no more than 30 of these players in world football now. However many throw the term around so casually it is making a mockery to the reference. People need to find a new term for individual moments of brilliance, as world class means consistency of top quality performance.

To be world class requires more than individual brilliance, many professionals possess this in some form. Yet the best are able to perform to high levels consistently, in the  biggest games on the biggest stage. One good season does not warrant the label either, it is about consistency of quality yet it also about something more. 

Before Zlatan arrived at Camp Nou he was a very good player. Yet he was not world class. At Ajax, Juve and Inter he helped his sides win league titles each season (from 2003-2004 Zlatan won the league each year with his club up till 2011-12). His talent and contribution was evident. 

Yet this blog believes that winning domestic leagues requires talented individuals, Man City’s success a prime example. Top players can dominate domestic sides and Zlatan has clearly been truth to this. Yet in order to succeed in Europe, to win the Champions League, to lift the most prized trophy in world football, now that takes something more, something which Zlatan lacked for many years of his career; teamwork. 

Selfishness or individualism will not cut it in Europe. Again just see Man City. What success at this level requires is the blend of top individuals working for the team. Before Zlatan arrived at Barca, I do not believe he knew or could accept this key component.

Mourinho knew the value of team

When Jose Mourinho arrived at the San Siro he was taking over a side who had won back to back league titles under Roberto Mancini. His remit was clear, do what Mancini could not and make Inter European champions. This was not an easy remit at all, especially for what Inter had compared to others. 

At this time Europe was being dominated by English clubs and were about to witness the rise of Barcelona. What did United, Chelsea and Barca have in common? They had world class talents like Ronaldo, Messi and Drogba, players who Zlatan could make a case to say he rivalled. Yet those clubs played as one and their stars played for that team. Selfless sacrifice was the key to success. 

Mourinho knew Zlatan did not have that kind of mentality in him and he knew if he was to succeed in Europe he would need to offload him. He managed to pull off an incredible deal which benefited Inter and harmed Barca, Inter gained Eto’o, bought Miltio and Sneijder and made history by winning the treble. Mourinho achieved what Mancini couldn’t because he realised that Zlatan was not the answer but the problem.

Zlatan was a player sought out by Guardiola, the Barca coach thought he was getting the missing link to his jigsaw, the ‘plan B’, the ‘Drogba’ type player Barca clearly lacked (yet didn’t necessarily need). However Guardiola found out the issues which Zlatan brought when tensions between the two became apparent after issues regarding playing position and one Lionel Messi. 

Zlatan could not believe the way he was being treated, that Messi had been favoured above him and took out his frustrations on the coach. The situation became so bad the two did not speak for six months, so they say. Zlatan was selfish and thought only of himself, which was the opposite of what Guardiola had built Barca's success on. Sacrifice and team was more important than the individual. 

The irony of Mourinho and Inter knocking out Barca in the semi-final’s was not lost on many, especially the two coaches. Inter had beniftted without Zlatan, Barca had struggled with him. It was a failure and Zlatan was shipped out after a year (with another league title however).

A maturing Zlatan, the rise of the leader

On his return to Italy Zlatan would go and win the league once again, this time as the driving force of Milan. He was in his element now that he had more control over the team. Allegri learnt how to deal with Zlatan, he gave him more ownership and leadership and whereas past coaches had treated Zlatan as their rogue genius, Allegri appeared to see a more balanced and mature individual who could help and guide his team. Had his time under Guardiola changed him?

Whether Zlatan had learnt the errors of his ways in Spain, whether he started to understand the importance of ‘team’ and sacrifice this blog cannot confirm. Yet what is clear is that since his return from Barca Ibra has become a genuine world class player. For both club and country his performances have excelled. Whereas he once made Sweden restrictive and over-reliant on their most talented player, Zlatan now started to become a leader both on and off the pitch.

His rise to the top of football's elite may also have something to do with the evolution of his style of play. Zlatan has now started to become a playmaker and his talents became enhanced in this deeper role.  His deeper role allowed him to link with players more, he became a greater team player. Playing deeper, sorry, playing for the team, made Zlatan world class.

Paris - Zlatan's final shot

While Milan decided to move into that dreaded transition period Zlatan had to make a choice. He wanted to add that final trophy to his collection, the big one. The project at PSG appealed best. 

Last season this blog argued that PSG were delusional in their desires to win the Champions League by 2015. The article even made the case that if they wanted to win it they would need to get rid of Zlatan, the ‘cursed’ talent. However, are we now seeing a Zlatan who realises what he needs to do in order to succeed?

This summer PSG enhanced the team to levels which make you sit back and think, this is serious. A strikeforce of Cavani and Zlatan is one of the most daunting in Europe, and the goals and performances have proven as such. The arrival of Marquinhos allied with the ‘world class’ Silva has added more security to the defence and PSG have gone from looking like a mercenary playground to a genuine European challenger. 

Their possible success looks more probable when you consider that Barca and Madrid are both in ‘transition’ with new coaches, as too United, City and Chelsea. You start to think how wide open the Champions League is this season. Dortmund and Juve who were this blogs favourites to win it this year both look poorer than last year. 

This leaves just Pep's Bayern, which has a sense of inevitability to it of the two locking horns sometime later on in the competition. Bayern look the real deal, yet if we look at ‘curses’ then Sacchi may have a say in Bayern’s season. No team since Milan in 1990 haswon back to back European cups. The odds are against them, if performances are not. 

Which leads us to consider PSG as a genuine contender, where it is clear that Zlatan can taste this possibility. 

Zlatan has attracted controversy at each club and has a reputation for being a ‘hot head’ with outbursts and rage coming out time and again. However in recent years we are seeing a more Zen type character emerge. His style, attitude and character symbolises as much. He has become (slightly) calmer yet certainly more team centred and inclusive of others.

Zlatan’s maturity in recent years could be put down to his experience as a player, working with different coaches, players and environments. It may also have to do with his black belt in taekwondo. It is not only his physical skills which have been enhanced due to this martial arts training but evidently his mentality. What is clear is that Zlatan is no longer the rogue individual he was but a now a true leader who has the ability to lead his team to European success. 

For some players maturity and growth takes longer and comes later than for some, there are some who mature early and have ‘leadership’ in their makeup from an early age. Players like Zlatan however take a little longer, yet the pleasing the thing is that he has finally become the man which his coaches have wanted. It is this ability which now makes him a world class player and it is no surprise he is receiving the credit now. The question is, can this new found maturity bring him the one trophy missing from his esteemed collection?

The Whitehouse Address @The_W_Address