Swedish striker Ibrahimovicenjoyed two stints under Mourinho – first at Inter and then at Manchester United after he arrived in July 2016 on a free transfer. During his two years with the Red Devils, Ibrahimovic netted 17 goals in 33 games. The 39–year–old has always been very complimentary of manager Mourinho.
He revealed in his 2013 autobiography “I Am Zlatan Ibrahimovic” how the boss used to fire up the Inter squad before matches.
“He worked us twice as hard to get us ready,” he detailed.
“He lives and breathes football.
“I’ve never known a manager with that kind of knowledge about the opposing sides.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Jose Mourinho get along well (Image: GETTY)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic was Jose Mourinho's second signing at United (Image: GETTY)
The Adrenaline pumped inside us and we felt like rabid animals
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
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“He knew everything, right down to the third-choice goalkeeper’s shoe size.”
Ibrahimovic, who now plays in the MLS with LA Galaxy, remembers one experience that sticks in his mind more than anything else.
“Go out there like hungry lions, like warriors,” Ibrahimovic recalls the 55-year-old shouting.
“In the first battle like this [pounding his fist against his palm].
Jose Mourinho managed Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Inter Milan (Image: GETTY)
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“And in the second like this [he kicked the flip chart and sent it flying across the room]."
Ibrahimovic added: “The Adrenaline pumped inside us and we felt like rabid animals.
“I felt like this guy gives everything for the team, so I wanted to give everything for him.”
Ibrahimovic added how the Portuguese manager stayed in constant contact with him after he left Milan, which helped swing his decision on moving to Manchester.