Ibrahimovic returns to Milan: the Swede’s new arrival at Milanello is official
Finally here we are: Zlatan Ibrahimovic returns to Milan. Below is the statement from the Rossoneri club on the Swede:
RedBird Capital Partners (“RedBird”) today announced the appointment of Zlatan Ibrahimović (“Ibra”) as Operating Partner for its Sports, Media and Entertainment investment portfolio. In this capacity, he will also serve as Senior Advisor to AC Milan’s Ownership and Senior Management.
Ibra is one of the most iconic football players in the sport worldwide. He left his mark on every team he played for, winning 34 trophies across Malmö, Ajax, Juventus, Inter, Barcelona FC, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and Los Angeles Galaxy. Over the course of his career, Ibra has scored over 570 goals, including more than 500 for clubs, and has done so in each of the last four decades. Ibra was named best player of the Italian Serie A three times (2008, 2009, 2011) and best player of the French Ligue 1 three times (2012, 2013, 2015). He was also Serie A’s top scorer in 2009 and 2012, Ligue 1’s top scorer in 2012, 2013 and 2015 and the Swedish national team’s all-time top scorer.
On 4 June 2023, Ibra announced his retirement from football after Milan’s final match of the Serie A season, ending his career with the Rossoneri. With his appointment at RedBird, Ibra will kick-start his career off the pitch as part of one of the most prolific and successful investors in sports and media globally.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic – Photo by Facebook.com
Ibra is a character whose name resonates far beyond the confines of the football field. His on-the-ground prowess has allowed him to build a global brand as an entrepreneur, published author, marketing and advertising specialist, and investor. With 123 million followers on social media, Ibra is a global influencer of unquestionable reach and appeal, as well as a best-selling author for his autobiography “I Am Zlatan”, which is among the most successful sports biographies. Ibra is also involved on a humanitarian level to return part of what he has received, collaborating with the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) to promote awareness of the dimensions of the problem of hunger in the world and of the 805 million people who still suffer today lack of food.
As an Operating Partner of RedBird, Ibra will collaborate with the company’s global investment team in supporting RedBird’s existing investment portfolio in sports, media and entertainment. He will help source and evaluate new investment opportunities for the company and advise RedBird portfolio companies on business projects, digital content strategies and strategic brand-building initiatives to extend their presence on a global basis.
At AC Milan, Ibra will serve as Senior Advisor to the Ownership, which is led by RedBird and includes the New York Yankees, one of RedBird’s longest-standing sports partners. Working in close coordination with both the Ownership and Senior Management of AC Milan, Ibra will play an active role in the Club’s sporting and commercial operations and will contribute to strengthening its winning culture. His mandate will include player development and high performance training, promoting AC Milan’s global brand and commercial interests and supporting special projects of strategic importance, including the Club’s new stadium.
“We were all lucky enough to witness Zlatan’s greatness as a player and his contribution in taking AC Milan to the top of Serie A“, said Gerry Cardinale, Founder and Managing Partner of RedBird. “What makes a winner of Zlatan’s caliber is not only athletic talent, but also intelligence and entrepreneurial spirit. At RedBird, we have developed partnerships with a very select group of highly successful global athletes and artists who are able to thrive in the RedBird ecosystem across our portfolio of sports, media and entertainment. I had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with Zlatan reflecting on his career options after retiring from playing football. Having him with us, in an active role in the Club’s future, is indicative of our continued commitment to excellence both on and off the pitch, and I look forward to working with him as a partner and colleague at both RedBird and AC Milan. The respect that Zlatan has commanded as a player, his global presence among fans of the sport and his diverse skills as an entrepreneur are a powerful combination for both AC Milan and RedBird. To our fans, our players, the coaching staff and the rest of the Rossoneri community, I am thrilled to be able to formally welcome him to the team once again”.
Paolo Scaroni, President of AC Milan, added: “Ibra embodies what it means to be a champion. During his time at the Club, we have all seen his work ethic, his determination and his relentless pursuit of success. Having him as an advisor to both ownership and senior management is a win in every respect as we continue to dedicate our utmost effort to returning AC Milan to the top of European football”.
AC Milan CEO Giorgio Furlani commented: “Bringing a leader like Ibra into the management of AC Milan as a consultant underlines our commitment to the future success of our Club for the benefit of our players and our fans. We are fortunate to have access to Ibra’s creativity and his extensive network of relationships across European football to continue to elevate the Club onto a global stage”.
Speaking about his new roles, Ibrahimovic said: “I am extremely grateful to join both RedBird and AC Milan in these important and influential roles. RedBird has partnered with some of the world’s greatest athletes, teams and business figures to create businesses with meaning and impact. I look forward to contributing to their properties’ investment activities in the sports, media and entertainment sectors.” He further added: “My love for the Rossoneri will never end and the opportunity to be part of their future in a meaningful way is something I could only have dreamed of. I am grateful to Gerry for making this opportunity available to me. I have greatly admired the commitment, passion and hard work that RedBird and the Senior Management have shown since they acquired the Club. This is not a decision I take lightly – it is very important and personal to me and my family. I’ve thought long and hard about the first steps of my career outside of playing football, and I couldn’t be more excited to begin this journey as a member of RedBird and AC Milan. For me and my family, this is truly a homecoming, to the dear Club where I ended my playing career and now I am starting my next chapter”.
2023-12-11 19:00:46
#official #press #release #RedBird
