Ibrahimovic Sets Retirement Date

“I have a contract until 2016. I will be 34 next season and I don’t see myself continuing to play at the top level after that,” he said in an interview with broadcasters CNN made available early Thursday on their website. Ibrahimovic had already spoken about retirement three years ago when he told Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport paper that he would quit when he is 33. He turns 33 in October. The eight-times Swedish Footballer of the Year has won more than 20 domestic titles with Ajax Amsterdam, Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan Barcelona and PSG but, apart from the 2009 Club World Cup with Barca, lacks a major international title such as the Champions League crown. He hopes to win this trophy with PSG — without being obsessed about it. “I think we can win it. We have a good opportunity. This team is made to play in good tournaments,” he said. “Of course, it would be nice to win the Champions League, and I feel I can and will win it. But if my career finishes without it, I would still be happy and proud.” Ibrahimovic also talked about his countless spectacular goals, and rated his bicycle kick for Sweden against England in a 2012 friendly his best, ahead of last season’s backheel volley against Bastia. “I rank them very high but I have to say the one for Sweden is top. It was a different situation: it was the first game in the new stadium, against England, and I scored (all) four goals that night as well,” he said.