Ibrahimovic: “My role doesn’t matter. What matters is Milan. We want Milan to be successful”

Here are his statements:

First, on wearing a suit to the interview:

"I promised the team at the beginning: you'll never see me in a jacket and tie . And instead everything changed quickly. Do I like wearing a suit? No. I admit it. I don't feel comfortable. I'm an athlete, a sportsman. But every time I want to dress the way I want, Helena looks at me and says: "Today you have to wear a suit." I reply: "Why?". And she: Because you have a press conference. So put on a tie and shut up. Let's go . But I understand it too: today I'm not dressing to represent who I am. I dress for the role I have: today I represent Milan, I represent RedBird."

On working with RedBird founder Gerry Cardinale, Ibrahimovic said:

"As on the field, here too teamwork is the most important thing of all.That's what I told Gerry Cardinale when I agreed to work with him. I told him clearly: “It's not a one-man show anymore. I'm not coming here to save anyone. If you think that's the case, let's forget it right now. I'm not here to save the situation. I'm here to learn from others and help them do their best. Learn. Help. Teamwork'."

On being included as part of RedBird representatives on their website:

"I told Gerry, I'm probably the only person on that website who didn't go to Harvard. In fact: I come from the streets. He started laughing. He says he wants me for that too."

On how he started this new chapter of his career after retiring from football:

"It was all thanks to Gerry. When I stopped playing I was 42. I said to myself: Listen, you have to be realistic. You have to accept that you are no longer the same as before . The biggest problem, the real problem that every footballer has, is precisely this: accepting reality and putting the ego aside. Understanding that you have passed your expiration date. I did it. I accepted it. And so I found my peace. Since then I have been calm. And that was the most difficult part."

And after that , how did you live? I imagine it was nice, almost a relief, after years of hard work, to have time to be in peace, with your family. Ibrahimovic replied:

"I started to enjoy life in a different way, without training every day. I spent a lot of time with my family, as I always do. I'm not someone who goes out at night. If you look at my Instagram, you'll never find a photo of my wife or my children. Because for me they are sacred, private. And so, after I stopped playing, I spent a lot of time with them. And I relived my life through them. It was like a flashback, but with them but not with me on the pitch. Because when I played, I had little time for them. Now I wanted to recover. It was really fantastic. It was really beautiful. And I wasn’t even looking for something to do. No challenges, nothing. I said to myself:  Take your time. Watch what happens. Slow down. Get used to the new life. And after three months I came to visit the guys here at Milan. I spoke to Furlani, the CEO. He liked our chat and said to me: You should meet Gerry Cardinale. So I met him. We talked. He wanted to know more about me, what I want, who I am. Get to know me better. Then he said to me: “ I want you to be in RedBird. Not in Milan. In RedBird. I want you to work with Milan. Bring your experience. Learn the other side of football, the one you don’t see on the pitch. The finances, the numbers, how everything works .”

And here it is, the new, great challenge... Ibrahimovic commented:

"Yes, I am someone who loves big challenges. When I do something, it has to be something huge. Otherwise I don't feel the adrenaline, the pressure. And I need pressure. I don't like normal things. At first I said no, I'm not interested. Also because when my agent Mino Raiola passed away, a couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to join his company, become an agent. I thought about it. And I was clear with Gerry: I said, listen, I have this opportunity, and I also have the one you're offering me, but in reality... I don't want either of them . Because my life at that time was beautiful like this. I didn't depend on anyone. No schedule to follow. No seven o'clock alarm clock. The only plan I had were my two ninjas, my two boys, and Helena. And then obviously life at home, training."

And then what happened? 

"It was Gerry, like I told you. He pushes. He pushes hard. Now I understand why he is successful: he never gives up. He is the real Wolf of Wall Street . He always gets what he wants. In the end, he gave me an opportunity that I couldn't say no to. And then my wife also told me: If I know you well, I know that after a while you will get bored. You need a challenge. Go, do what you have to do and be yourself . And she knows me and well. And no, it has nothing to do with money. Because I am not paid by Milan, understand? I am not an employee of Milan. I work for RedBird. But my responsibility is clear: to take AC Milan where it belongs. To win."

"I made a joke, one of those classic ones, from Ibra, right? But it always depends on who you're joking with. Talking to you, maybe I wouldn't say it. But there were former players there, so I said: “ I'm the boss, and everyone works for me ”. The first time I said it in an interview in English, but adding that it was a joke. Because then I also clarified my role as advisor, representative of the ownership, all the rest. But obviously, when I was a player, a joke like that was taken in a certain way. Now? Everyone interprets it as they want."

Ibrahimovic added:

"There are those who say:  Zlatan is arrogant . And then everything is elaborated and amplified. Being careful about what I say is part of the change of role. Before I was a player, I represented myself. Now I represent something much bigger. I represent RedBird. And I talk to Gerry every day. Because so many people say: Cardinale is the owner, but he is not always here ." Well, it doesn't matter where Gerry is, because there is Ibra... He often says: This is not my everyday job . But he cares, and a lot. He is very attached to Milan, he wants to be successful, Milan is absolutely central to RedBird's plans. He wants to bring Milan back where it deserves to be. In his own way, with his vision, his ambition. And we are following that path. He put the right people in charge of Milan. And he gives you responsibility, but in exchange he wants one simple thing: results."

Balance is needed in this job...

"Yes, I try to maintain balance, not to become stressed," says Ibrahimovic. "Because in this job, at Casa Milan, you don't realize you're stressed... until you hit a wall. And when that happens, it could be too late. That's why I try to balance everything. For example, I don't have an office. They wanted to give me one, but I chose not to. A desk is not proof of effectiveness. For me it means putting all your effort into doing what is needed. Stop. Whether it's here at Casa Milan or at Milanello."

How did you manage stress as a footballer?

"If I was stressed, angry, or there was something I didn't like, I went to the gym for two hours. Even today I try to train every day, when I can. To release my anger, to get out energy. If something doesn't work, if something doesn't close, I let it all out like this: I train, I suffer in training. Because I like to suffer. In my head it's clear: if you want to get to the top, you have to suffer. Here, new situations always happen. I'm not used to everything yet, so I observe, I learn, I gain experience. I have my say when it's necessary, but if I don't feel confident, I don't go and tell others what they have to do in their field. If it's not my area, I trust the person in front of me. He has to make the right decision. But one thing is clear: I expect results. Everything we do must bring results. We are not a charity foundation. We are a football club. And in football, results matter. Because I always say this: “Milan does not play to win a match. It does not play to win trophies. Milan writes history."

It is this concept of winning mentality, that right winning mentality that Ibra brings to the club, at all levels.

"Do you know how we won the last championship, when I was playing? With the mentality. Because with the right motivation, with the right mentality, an athlete is capable of anything. We weren't the strongest team, but we won because we were stronger mentally. This is what I try to bring, always. It's different, obviously, at Milanello and at Casa Milan, because when I see a player, I know what to do to motivate him, I know who I have to hug, I know who I have to smile at, I know who I have to look askance at, I know who I have to raise my voice with. I know that locker room very well. With the business part, it's more subtle."

Ibrahimovic continued:

"The thing I care about most is the idea of ​​uniting these two worlds, because there is not the team over there, at Milanello, and the club, here, at Casa Milan. There is only one thing, there is only Milan. And I want to unite these worlds. That's how we work. A new player arrives? He comes with me. They tell me:  Ibra, it would be nice if Walker visited Casa Milan . I reply:  Don't worry, he will visit every floor, and greet everyone. He will . And he did. It was incredible. So he sees the whole system: the business, the commercial, the team, the staff. All together."

A new way of doing things. After all, if you want to do things the old way, you don't choose Ibrahimović as a manager...

"We bring a new culture, in our own way. Like the idea of ​​creating Milan Futuro, which is very important to us. For me, the Academy is fundamental. Without the base, there is no summit. The summit, the first team, is incredible, because it is the heart. But it is the base that holds the heart. It is..."

Blood?

"Yes, blood. Good. The blood that circulates and makes the heart work. Milan must have a great Academy. And that's how ideas bounce around, we discuss, we try new things. We are also much younger managers than the average in Italy, and I assure you that when you see us next to other teams, you notice it. Our approach is to do things our way. And it's not that I command and the others follow, no. We talk, we discuss. We are here to build something new. Without fear. This is the real answer, if you ask me what my role is». Building something new, different. «I'll give you another example. For the first time, I brought the whole team to San Siro. They had to say goodbye to the whole Academy, everyone. Because I want the youth team kids to see the first team. And I want the first team to see who they are representing. Who they play for, who they are an example of. It's a question of mentality. And for the kids? Wow. People went crazy. Before, one, maximum two players would go to say hello. Now? Everyone."

He continued:

"When we won the Super Cup in Riyadh, when we were on the pitch celebrating, the first thing I said to my teamwas: When we get back, let's bring the trophy to Casa Milan. Let's take a photo with everyone. Because everyone has the right to see this trophy, not just the players . And when I say everyone, I mean everyone. Not just the masseurs or physiotherapists, but all of Milan, all of the commercial department, absolutely everyone. This is the most important thing. That's why our motto is Winning Together. That's how it is. You know what? In the end, my role doesn't matter. What matters is Milan. We want Milan to be successful. Everything we do here, we do for Milan. There is no ego, at least for me. I said, it's not a one-man show. I prefer to stay in the shadows, I don't even want to take any credit. Believe me, I told the boys: I don't even want to be in the photos or videos. Then I understood that they have to exploit certain dynamics, and I respect that. But trust me: if it were up to me, you wouldn't see me. I would just work. Work, work, work. Milan is the star. Not me. I'm here today, I'm here tomorrow, okay. But the day after tomorrow? Maybe I'm no longer here. Milan, on the other hand, continues to exist. And I do it for Milan, not for myself. Milan gave me happiness the first time. And it gave me happiness the second time too. But I don't do it for personal interest. I don't need this. I'm famous, I don't need money, and I don't even need followers. I do it for Milan, and because I want to learn new things. When I played, everything revolved around me. Today I'm the bodyguard: if they have to shoot someone, let them shoot me. I want to protect the team and the club. I'm not afraid, because I shoot back twice. So I can be the target. I spent ten years of war. And if you live a war in the Balkans, it's not that they call you to tell you how it's going. You're the one waiting for the call, to know what's happening. To know if your family is okay. Every day someone calls you crying, and you don't know if they'll still be alive tomorrow. And you can't do anything. If someone has spent ten years like this, they're not afraid of anyone. Because that's something else. That's the real fear. And when the media talk about me? It doesn't affect me. For 25 years as a footballer they attacked me every day. Why? Because I was the best. Whether they speak well or badly, if they talk about you it means you are on top of the world. And here it's the same: everyone always talks about Milan. Why? Because we are the greatest."

Ibrahimovic concluded:

"Milan is the most famous club in Italy. We represent Italian football in the world. DNA, mentality, pedigree. The numbers speak for themselves. Everyone talks about us. And if they talk about us, it means we are doing something great. A new mentality. Our management is young, international. People with different visions, different ambitions: there is hunger. And this is incredible. We are not afraid. This is our strength. We do what we believe in, without fear, without limits, we do things our way. We do not look at others. We move forward, always. Whatever wall we find in front of us? We break it down. And trust me: we are rock and roll. Always aiming for results. We are the new school."