WHAT HAPPENED?

This is the season when the long relationship between Z and the UEFA Champions League starts. The young, talented Ajax took on big team after big team and with Ibrahimović up front they managed to go to the quarterfinals, almost beating the champions Milan. In the league, they were one point short of PSV, one of those extremely rare seasons where Zlatan's team is not on top at the end of the season.

After deciding the Dutch Cup Final a couple of months before and having been part of the Swedish squad in the World Cup in Japan/South Korea 2002, it felt like a more "ready" Zlatan to take on the 2002/03-season. They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger and there's no question the first tough season in Ajax made Ibra more resistant to setbacks.

OUT ON TO THE BIG EUROPEAN SCENE

After winning the Dutch Super Cup in the season's first game (TROPHY 3), and having played four league games without scoring and also been on the bench a couple of times (new competing signing Mido had performed well), the Champions League-debut could not have started better. Against Lyon, at home in Amsterdam, he started and showed Europe the first glimse of the real, powerful Ibrahimović. It only took 11 minutes before he scored a beautiful goal (see video below) and then scored once more to kick off CL with a 2-0-win. Ajax played amazingly well against several big clubs (Arsenal, Valencia, Roma) in the two group stages and almost managed to get to the semi-final (!) but was knocked out by the champions Milan. 5 goals by Ibrahimović.

UNUSUALLY DIDN'T WIN THE LEAGUE

In the Dutch league, the race was between Ajax and PSV from round 1 with the rivals from Eindhoven being one step ahead all season. And when PSV won (against Ajax) 2-0 in March, being 10 points ahead everyone thought the trophy was theirs but Ajax managed to fight their way back, making the end tight. PSV was however stronger in the end and won the title anyway. Something we now know is extremely rare for Ibra.

13 LEAGUE-GOALS

Only scoring 6 in the league the first season, the pressure was high on Zlatan to score more goals and fill the #9-shirt. He did, finally. Like mentioned, in the Champions League he played great and the success there positively influenced the athmosphere in Amsterdam and the fans view on Z's performance but he had still only scored 2 league-goals when reaching mid-december. That's when it all started to happen. Koeman gave him confidence, starting him 12 straight league games dec-apr and Ibra delivered, scoring 11 goals, his best scoring streak so far, making it 13 total.

STEP FORWARD

An injury in May halted the season a bit, Ajax "only" won the Super Cup but the success in Champions League (5 goals) together with scoring 11 goals in the last 13 games made the future look amazingly bright for both Z and Ajax, he was about to reach the next level.

"It was my Champions League debut - I had only played in the qualifiers before - and of course that was cool. Champions League had been a dream for me and the atmosphere at the stadium was fucking amazing."
"I did a a two foot dribble to the left, and both defenders were all over me. It looked like a dead end, but then I saw an opening between them, like a narrow corridor, and even before I had time to think about it I was through and came in front of the goal and saw another opening and made a shot, a low strike that hit the post and went in, and I went crazy. It wasn't just a goal, it was beautiful too, and I ran like crazy towards my friends on the side and cheered with them, and the whole team was after me, totally crazy, and not long after that I scored another goal. It was insane, really. Two goals in my Champions League debut."

- from "I AM ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIĆ"

1. GOAL

2. GOAL

PLAYLIST | EREDIVISIE 2002/03

PLAYLIST | DUTCH CUP 2002/03

PLAYLIST | DUTCH SUPER CUP 2002/03

PLAYLIST | UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2002/03

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