Los Angeles Galaxy

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's Major League Soccer career appears set to end on a fiery note, with the Los Angeles Galaxy forward saying "nobody will remember" the division if he leaves after making an obscene gesture to Los Angeles FC supporters on Thursday. 

LAFC got the better of the Galaxy in their playoff showdown, eventually winning an absorbing encounter 5-3. 

The loss brought an end to the Galaxy's season and potentially Ibrahimovic's time at the club, with his contract set to expire in a couple of months. The 38-year-old has been strongly linked with a switch to Serie A side Napoli.

Ibrahimovic had plenty to say after Thursday's game; he was asked why he grabbed his crotch as he left the field after being on the receiving end of some stick from the LAFC supporters.

"They said something," he said, per Darren Wells of the Daily Mirror. "Not being disrespectful, but this is like training for me. The stadium is too small for me. I'm used to playing in front of 80,000. This is a walk in the park."

Kevin Shockey shared footage of the exchange between the Swede and some supporters:

Ibrahimovic walks off the pitch (for the final time?) With his junk in his hand pic.twitter.com/DY0mveFASV

— Kevin Shockey (@KevinShockey) October 25, 2019

The striker was also quizzed on what comes next for him, with his contract close to expiring.

"What happens next year? I don't know," he said. "If I stay it will be good for MLS because the whole world will watch it. If I don't stay, nobody will remember what MLS is."

Here is more of what the enigmatic forward had to say following the game:

Zlatan Ibrahimovic on if this was his final game in the #MLS #Zlatan pic.twitter.com/g4jfYPOGWN

— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) October 25, 2019

Although the Galaxy were beaten in a fixture that has come to be known as El Trafico, Ibrahimovic made his mark on the game. He set up one goal and scored another to help his team recover from a 2-0 deficit, but eventually the home side were too strong:

On to the Western Conference Finals.

🎥 Highlights from our 5-3 win over the @LAGalaxy. #ForLosAngeles pic.twitter.com/TcmlIO3hMw

— LAFC (@LAFC) October 25, 2019

Ibrahimovic joined the MLS side in 2018, having been released by Manchester United. While his adventure in the United States appears set to end without an MLS Cup, he's had a major impact on the game in the country.

ESPN FC summed up how impressive he has been in his two seasons with Los Angeles:

Was this Zlatan's last game for the Galaxy?

If so, his MLS resume is missing something ... 🏆 pic.twitter.com/OXWE8KOOTL

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 25, 2019

Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl congratulated the forward on his MLS stint following Thursday's encounter:

FT LAFC 5:3 LA Galaxy. Deserved win at last for LAFC against its rival when it matters most. If this is it for Zlatan Ibrahimovic in MLS, thank you for your contribution. Carlos Vela is The Truth.

— Subscribe to GrantWahl.com (@GrantWahl) October 25, 2019

A return to Serie A appears to be next for Ibrahimovic, with Napoli chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis confirming he has already met with the striker and held discussions over a transfer. "It would be my wish to see him in Napoli colours," he said, per Sky Sport Italia (h/t Joe Wright of Goal). "It's more than a suggestion, and it depends on him."

On Thursday's evidence, Ibrahimovic still has the fire to play at the top level. After a couple of years away from the European game, it'll be fascinating to see if he still has the quality to thrive against a higher standard of opponent week after week.

Los Angeles Galaxy forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic has said Sunday's Major League Soccer Cup playoff clash with Minnesota United "could be" his last game for the club. 

The veteran striker is currently in his second season with the Galaxy and the upcoming contest will be his first playoff game for the team. 

While Ibrahimovic will be hopeful his side can win on the road and keep their MLS Cup hopes alive, speaking ahead of the match, the 38-year-old conceded there is a chance the upcoming fixture may be his final outing for the Galaxy, per Chris Burton of Goal:

"Could be. There are no other thoughts, I respect my contract. If I leave you will have less to write about.

"If I stay you will still have something to write about. Let's see what happens. But let's focus on the play-off. I think [my future] is not the right thing to discuss. I've had a good time, good experience. I've learned a lot on how it works here, still a work in progress.

"I've enjoyed it and that's the most important. I came back from my injury and came like a little kid that just wanted to enjoy football. MLS gave me the opportunity and I took it."

Ahead of the crucial playoff game, Ibrahimovic took some time to return to his homeland, where a statue was unveiled of him:

"When you come to New York you have the Statue of Liberty, when you come to Sweden you have the Statue of Zlatan."—Zlatan Ibrahimovic 🇸🇪 pic.twitter.com/EsXae83mJn

— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 8, 2019

Ibrahimovic is nearing the end of his current contract with the Los Angeles outfit and rumours have been rife regarding a possible move back to European football.

When asked if he could still cut it in some of European football's top leagues, Ibrahimovic said "I know I could still make the difference" and "I'd do better than the players who are there now." Per Burton, the striker joked in August that he'd still be able to do a job for former club Manchester United.

Ibrahimovic suffered a serious injury during his time with the Red Devils and there were questions as to whether he would be able to recover fully. But in MLS, he's found goalscoring straightforward:

Only three players have scored 30+ goals in a single MLS season:

• 2019: Carlos Vela (34)
• 2018: Josef Martínez (31)
• 2019: Zlatan Ibrahimović (30)

Carlos Vela makes MLS history. 🇲🇽

— Squawka (@Squawka) October 7, 2019

The Galaxy will be hopeful their star man can maintain those standards in the post-season, as they will face a big test at Allianz Field on Sunday. In the regular season, Minnesota were only beaten once on their own patch.

Earlier in the campaign, Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated predicted Ibrahimovic would be decisive in these key encounters at the end of the season:

Ibrahimovic should love the MLS playoff format with this Galaxy team. Nowhere near the league’s best team over a season, but in one game or a short playoff run they can beat anyone.

— Subscribe to GrantWahl.com (@GrantWahl) August 26, 2019

As talismanic a figure as Ibrahimovic is, he will need help from his team-mates if the Galaxy are going to get through to the next stage of the bracket. 

Defensively, the Los Angeles side have struggled throughout the campaign and they were defeated 4-2 by Houston Dynamo in their last regular season match. If they can add some more cohesion to their play, in Ibrahimovic they have a game-changer at the point of the attack.

L.A. Galaxy striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has refused to rule out returning to play in Serie A or the Premier League when his contract with the Major League Soccer side expires in December.

The 38-year-old told Sky Sport Italia that he is confident he can still do a job in Europe (h/t Jordan Seward for MailOnline).

"Oh, 100 per cent, I know I could still make the difference, both in Italy and in other countries," he said. "I'd do better than the players who are there now. My contract expires in December, and I don't know what will happen after that."

Ibrahimovic joined the Galaxy in March 2018 and has been a hit for the MLS side, scoring 35 goals in 46 appearances. He netted his 30th goal of the season in Sunday's 4-2 defeat to Houston Dynamo.

The retired Sweden international has described himself as the best player to feature in the MLS:

Zlatan Ibrahimovic being Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

“I think I’m the best that has ever played in MLS. And that’s without joking. Have you been watching the two years I’ve been playing here?” pic.twitter.com/PWbDlzsomI

— GOAL (@goal) September 16, 2019

Yet it remains to be seen whether he will stay in Los Angeles when his contract expires. L.A. Galaxy general manager Dennis te Kloese told ESPN Deportes that Ibrahimovic's future will not be decided until the end of the season (h/t Tom Marshall at ESPN FC).

Meanwhile, Boca Juniors director Jorge Anro told Mundo Boca Radio that the forward "wants to play" for his side and that the club "would be able to pay Zlatan's contract" (h/t Goal's Matt Dorman).

Ibrahimovic's glittering career has seen him play for a host of Europe's top clubs, including Serie A sides Juventus, Inter and AC Milan, La Liga giants Barcelona and Ligue 1's Paris Saint-Germain.

The striker joined LA Galaxy after leaving Manchester United in 2018 and joked in August that he could return to the Red Devils:

"I could play easy in the Premier League, so if United needs me, I'm here."

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's open to a return to Manchester United.

👉 https://t.co/fu5dmucdrt #bbcfootball pic.twitter.com/1WdXwd1gmT

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 28, 2019

Ibrahimovic celebrated his 38th birthday at the start of October but has shown few signs of slowing down in his 30s:

Since turning 30 years old, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored 300 goals for club and country 🤯 pic.twitter.com/hbaE8yxojk

— GOAL (@goal) September 22, 2019

The Swede is not quite the same dominant force of old but is still unlikely to lack for offers if he does decide to leave the north American league in search of a new challenge in December.

L.A. Galaxy striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has suggested he could return to former club Ajax as a director when he retires from playing.

The 37-year-old played for the Dutch club early in his career, from 2001 to 2004.

He told De Telegraaf (h/t AS):

"Normally I don't return to clubs where I have already played, but maybe after my career I can become a director at Ajax. Then I would do a better job than anyone who is sitting there now.

"Ajax is still my club in the Netherlands and I am proud to have been part of it, especially when I see how they present themselves in Europe.

"They have done what nobody expected and produce players that they are used to producing. It's wonderful to see."

Ajax were the first club Ibrahimovic played for outside of his native Sweden. He joined them for Malmo and netted 48 times in 110 appearances before signing for Juventus.

The Dutch side were a European giant who won three consecutive European Cups from 1971 to 1973, and they won the competition again in the UEFA Champions League format in 1995.

However, the club were left behind by the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and the elite of the Premier League as they lacked the revenue to compete.

Last season, though, Ajax won the Eredivisie and enjoyed a stunning run to the Champions League semi-final, knocking out three-times holders Real Madrid and Juventus along the way (U.S. only):

https://twitter.com/brlive/status/1118265308207357952

Football writer Joel Rabinowitz was among many swept up in their incredible revival:

A simply phenomenal achievement by Ajax. A model club operating on a comparatively minuscule budget, promoting talented youth from within and playing brave, thrilling attacking football. The competition needs success stories like these. Superb.

— Joel Rabinowitz (@joel_archie) April 16, 2019

Dutch football writer Sjors van Veen reserved praise for Ajax sporting director Marc Overmars and CEO Edwin van der Sar:

https://twitter.com/SjorsvVeen/status/1118304694902902784

Ibrahimovic has won 11 top-division league titles in five different countries, among many other honours, and like Overmars and Van der Sar, he has prior experience of playing for Ajax.

Given the resources available to Ajax in comparison to their European rivals, it's difficult to realistically do much better than they already have.  

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has set a new salary record in Major League Soccer this season thanks to his $7.2 million wage at Los Angeles Galaxy. 

Per Goal, MLS Players Association's (MLSPA) salary guide has revealed Ibrahimovic has surpassed Sebastian Giovinco's record. The Italian earned $7.1 million at Toronto FC in 2017 and 2018.

Here's a look at how the Swede's pay compares with the rest of the league's top earners:

MLS or MLZ?

Zlatan Ibrahimović is earning a league-record $7.2 million salary this season 👀 pic.twitter.com/TiLTgvCeuO

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 12, 2019

Ibrahimovic is one of L.A. Galaxy's three designated players allowed to earn more than the club's salary cap, a rule that was introduced in MLS in 2007, the year David Beckham joined the Galaxy.

Non-designated first-team players in MLS earn an average of $345,867 per year. That figure is a 13.3 per cent increase on 2018 and a rise of more than 150 per cent from 2014, when the average salary stood at $138,140.

MLSPA executive director Bob Foose said:

"We are encouraged by the continued salary growth that has occurred over each of the last five years. As the league grows and revenues increase, it's critical that we see this kind of continued investment in player compensation up and down the roster.

"Players are the heart of MLS, and if MLS is to become the league of choice that it aspires to be, it needs to keep pace in an increasingly competitive market for players, both domestic and international. We feel good about these trends, and we expect to see them continue."

For Ibrahimovic, he has enjoyed a 380 per cent increase on the $1.5 million salary he took home in 2018.

The 37-year-old played 27 times in MLS last year and racked up 22 goals and seven assists, so it's little wonder he was rewarded with a bumper new contract.

He has continued to be prolific with 11 goals and three assists in 12 games this season, including this stunning effort against New England Revolution in his most recent outing:

ZLATAN BEING ZLATAN 🚲

(via @MLS)pic.twitter.com/lnTQeQhDTo

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 3, 2019

Thanks in part to his efforts, it has become exceedingly rare for Galaxy to fail to find the net each week:

1 - The Galaxy’s 0-0 draw against Minnesota on Wednesday was the first time the team had been held scoreless in an @MLS match that Zlatan Ibrahimovic started. Held. #LAGalaxy

— OptaJack⚽️ (@OptaJack) April 28, 2019

Despite his age, the striker is showing little sign of slowing down and could remain an asset for the club for some time to come.

L.A. Galaxy are second in the Western Conference after 16 matches this season, though they're 11 points behind local rivals Los Angeles FC.

Real Salt Lake defender Nedum Onuoha refused to accept an apology from L.A. Galaxy's Zlatan Ibrahimovic for his trash talk, which he said was "unacceptable."

Ibrahimovic clashed with Onuoha during Galaxy's 2-1 win over Real on Sunday.

KSL's Jeremiah Jensen relayed Onuoha's comments to Real Salt Lake reporter Samantha Yarock and footage of a confrontation between the pair after the match:

Nedum Onuoha explains to @syarock what happened when Zlatan came into the @realsaltlake locker room and why he didn't accept Zlatan's apology. #RSL #mls #rsltid pic.twitter.com/RNH36Olpv7

— Jeremiah Jensen (@JeremiahJensen) April 29, 2019

Per Goal's Chris Burton, the 32-year-old said:

"He came here to apologise after the game because from 60 minutes in, he's saying to me he's going to do me, he's going to hurt me for that game and this is the guy who's the face of the MLS as he calls himself, but this is the way he plays on the field.

"So I don't care. You don't say that on the field. I'm not going to accept his apologies. It's unacceptable."

Ibrahimovic scored the winner on Sunday after Donny Toia had cancelled out Uriel Antuna's opener at the Dignity Health Sports Park.

The win reduced the gap on Western Conference leaders Los Angeles FC to one point.

However, rather than celebrate, he immediately went to shout at former Manchester City centre-back Onuoha:

You don't want to upset the Lion. 🦁

Zlatan makes it 2-1! #LAvRSL https://t.co/lLl7fh68Fk

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 29, 2019

Per Burton, the 37-year-old, who joined Galaxy from Manchester United last year, told reporters after the match:

"What happens on the field, stays on the field. 

"I like to feel alive. I like when it becomes duels and that because sometimes, not that I fall asleep, but I don't feel alive if they don't activate me.

"They need to activate me or else it becomes too easy. I know me. When I get angry I feel good."

The Swede has started the 2019 season like he ended the 2018 campaign, in superb form.

His strike was his eighth in seven MLS matches this year and took his tally overall to 30 goals in 34 appearances for Galaxy.  

David Beckham was recently on the receiving end of an elaborate prank.

His friend and CBS Late Late Show host James Corden swapped out a statue intended to honour Beckham's career with Major League Soccer outfit LA Galaxy for a less flattering model at Dignity Health Sports Park in California:

Corden's faux statue came equipped with a particularly pronounced chin and was missing more than a few teeth. It added up to a rendering sure to make the football and fashion icon blanch.

There was more in store for Beckham, though, as Corden had an actor pose as a dignitary attending the fake ceremony. The impostor was instructed to get key details wrong about the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star's career when speaking with the 43-year-old.

For his part, Beckham took whole ruse, including the ghastly mock-up of himself, in good spirits.     

MLS side LA Galaxy have found their next head coach, announcing Guillermo Barros Schelotto as the new team boss on Wednesday. 

They announced the news via Twitter:

✅ OFFICIAL | #LAGalaxy name Guillermo Barros Schelotto Head Coach: https://t.co/OMf8ZUNhc7 pic.twitter.com/adz2WMV5zg

— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) January 2, 2019

Per the club's official website, Schelotto said he was "honored" to join: "I am honored to be the head coach for the most decorated club in Major League Soccer. This is a tremendous opportunity for me and I am excited to get to work. The LA Galaxy have long been the standard in MLS and I am ready to push the club to new heights."

General Manager Dennis te Kloese said the club believes Schelotto is a good fit:

"After a comprehensive search, domestically and internationally, we believe Guillermo will be a landmark signing for this club. Guillermo is a proven winner who has experience coaching, playing and winning for big clubs. It is our hope that Guillermo’s managing style and familiarity with MLS will bring trophies and championships to LA Galaxy fans and the city of Los Angeles."

The 45-year-old spent the last two seasons coaching Boca Juniors and guided the Argentinian giants to consecutive domestic titles and the Copa Libertadores final where they lost to rivals River Plate.

Rumours a deal was close started to pop up late December:

Report: LA Galaxy, Guillermo Barros Schelotto agree to deal: https://t.co/UwglCwS8Df pic.twitter.com/LLNWpMFPM7

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) December 27, 2018

Five-time MLS Cup winners Galaxy missed out on the play-offs last season despite having the high-scoring Zlatan Ibrahimovic in their ranks. Sigi Schmid resigned in September after a poor run of form, and interim manager Dominic Kinnear nearly took the club to the play-offs. 

Per Goal's Ives Galarcep the hire of Schelotto is down to new Te Kloese:

This is very much a Dennis Te Kloese hire. Before Te Kloese took over as GM, the Galaxy were well on their way to hiring Caleb Porter. I'm told the change in course away from Porter to Schelotto was very much driven by Te Kloese, who wasted no time putting his stamp on the team.

— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) January 2, 2019

Schelotto previously coached MLS side Columbus Crew between 2007 and 2010, winning the 2008 MLS Cup.