GROWING AND CLIMBING

ANOTHER LEAGUE-TITLE, NOMINATED TO BALLON D'OR

WHAT HAPPENED?

A season where Ibrahimović now was a fundamental part of the team, more consistently scoring, leading Ajax to another league victory. A hamstring injury troubled and Z had to go through surgery and missed three months but came back stronger.


At this point, having played two seasons for Ajax, getting some hugely valuable UEFA Champions League-experience the previous one, Zlatan was starting to establish himself as a, if not world class, at least an established european striker. The interest from bigger clubs started building and he was getting out more and more from his game.

 

ALWAYS ON TOP

Being behind PSV the entire previous season it was a determined Ajax, Ronald Koeman managed to win after win. Getting the top position in round 6, Ajax never dropped but went and won the Eredivisie again, second time in three seasons for Z (TROPHY 4).

 

A MORE DYNAMIC GAME

The evolution of powerful Ibrahimović had begun. His game was still based on flair and his amazing technical ablity, not letting an opportunity to show the crowd something special go. But the development in movement and passing was clear, he had games where he completely dominated, both in duels and in passing.

 

NOMINATED FOR BALLON D'OR

In November 2003 Zlatan got his first proper international recognition, being on the 2003 Ballon D'Or Shortlist, together with another 49 top players in the world. And not only was he nominated, he was voted on and ended up considered the 20th best player in the world that year.

 

HAMSTRING ISSUES

Unfortunately Zlatan's season was interrupted on several occasions, due to a hamstring problem. He finally went into surgery missed an entire three months dec-mar and played less 90-minutes-games than any other season. Ajax couldn't repeat their CL-success (even though Z scored an amazing goal against Celta Vigo and had a wonder-assist against Club Brügge, se video below) and left in the group stage. But with 13 league goals in only starting 16 games and Ajax getting another trophy Z had won over most of the Ajax fans, he was now one of their favorites and an important piece in this talanted team.

FACTS.


• FIRST GOAL:

27 August 2003, vs Grazer (CL-qual).


• ALL ZLATAN'S GAMES 2003/04:

31 games: 19 wins, 6 draws, 6 losses.


• WHEN ZLATAN WAS IN THE STARTING 11:

24 games: 15 wins, 4 draws, 5 losses.


• WHEN ZLATAN WAS BROUGHT ON:

7 games: 4 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss.


• WHEN ZLATAN SCORED:

15 games, 12 wins, 2 draws, 1 losses.


• WHEN ZLATAN DIDN'T SCORE:

16 games, 7 wins, 4 draws, 5 losses.


• NAME ON SHIRT:

Before the season, Zlatan changed the name on his shirt from "Zlatan" to "Ibrahimović"


• AGENT:

This season Mino Raiola became Zlatan's agent.

Eredivisie: WINNER

Dutch Cup: Round of 16

Champions League: Group Stage

Eredivisie 2003/04

 
G
W
D
L
GF
GA
P
1. Ajax
34
25
5
4
79
31
80
2. PSV
34
23
5
6
92
30
74
3. Feyenoord
34
20
8
6
71
38
68
4. Heerenveen
34
17
7
10
45
35
58

"I went on like this for two weeks (during physical training in rehab), and the strange thing was that it wasn't only rough. There was also something great about that pain. I was enjoying to completely end myself, and I started to get what hard work really means. I entered a new phase and felt stronger than ever. When I came back from the rehab I gave everything on the pitch and started to dominate.
I got confident, and posters like "Zlatan, the son of God", and stuff like that started to show up. People were screaming my name. I got better than ever, and it was obviously wonderful, but also, as always: when someone's shining others get jealous and there was already some tensions in the team, especially between the young guys who all wanted to show themselves and get sold to big clubs."

- from "I AM ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIĆ"

VIDEO 2003/04 - TOP 7

1. GOAL

8,4

AJAX 2003/04

vs NAC Breda

2003.09.21

2. GOAL

8,3

AJAX 2003/04

vs AZ Alkmaar

2004.03.28

3. ASSIST

8,2

AJAX 2003/04

vs ADO Den Haag

2003.11.09

4. GOAL

7,9

AJAX 2003/04

vs Celta Vigo

2003.10.22

5. ASSIST

7,9

AJAX 2003/04

vs Club Brügge

2003.10.01

6. GOAL

7,4

AJAX 2003/04

vs AZ Alkmaar

2003.11.01

7. GOAL

7,3

AJAX 2003/04

vs Groningen

2003.10.05

VIDEO 2003/04 - PLAYLISTS

PLAYLIST | EREDIVISIE 2003/04

PLAYLIST | UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2003/04

PLAYLIST | UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2003/04

UEFA are continously removing Champions League-videos from the internet. The Dailymotion UEFA Champions League-playlist is meant to complete the Youtube UEFA Champions League-playlist. So all Zlatan's goals/assists should be in either one of them. If you notice a video being removed from youtube or unavailable, it would be much appreciated if you report it to contact@zlatanibrahimovic.com. Thank you in advance.

TEAM TROPHIES 2003/04

1 TROPHY

EREDIVISIE

DUTCH LEAGUE

2003/04

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS 2003/04

FIFA BALLON D'OR

 

20th

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOMINATED:

2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The FIFA Ballon d'Or "Golden Ball" is an association football award given annually to the male player who is considered to have performed the best in the previous year. It is awarded based on votes by coaches and captains of international teams, as well as journalists from around the world. The award started in 2010 after France Football's Ballon d'Or and the men's FIFA World Player of the Year award were merged.

ZTATISTICS 2003/04

 
 
 
 
Start
Sub In
Sub Out
Goals
Assists
Yellow
Yel/Red
Red
Min

Eredivisie Dutch League

16

6

11

13

5

2

1403'

KNVB Dutch Cup

1

 

 

 

 

90'

UEFA Champions League Qual.

1

1

1

 

147'

UEFA Champions League

6

 

3

1

1

2

448'

 

 

24

7

14

 

 

4

 

 

2088'
     

31

  

15

6

      

 
 
GOALS - WHEN?

1-15
16-30
31-45
46-60
61-75
75-90+

Eredivisie Dutch League

 

4

1

1

5

2

KNVB Dutch Cup

 

 

 

UEFA Champions League Qual.

1

UEFA Champions League

 

 

1

 

 
 

 

1

4

1

2

5

2

GAMES 2003/04

 

DUTCH LEAGUE

          
 
 
 
          
Start
Sub In
Sub Out
Goals
Assists
Yellow
Yel/Red
Red
Min

2003.08.17

Eredivisie Dutch League
Vitesse

1-2

Ajax

 

63'

 

 

16'

 

 

62'

2003.08.31

Eredivisie Dutch League
Ajax

1-0

Zwolle

 

71'

 

1

 

 

 

70'

2003.09.13

Eredivisie Dutch League
Ajax

4-1

RKC Waalwijk

 

60'

1

 

 

 

 

59'

2003.09.21

Eredivisie Dutch League
NAC Breda

4-2

Ajax

 

46'

 

1

 

 

 

 

45'

2003.09.28

Eredivisie Dutch League
Ajax

6-0

Willem II

 

55'

1

 

 

 

 

54'

2003.10.05

Eredivisie Dutch League
Groningen

1-3

Ajax

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

90'

2003.10.17

Eredivisie Dutch League
Ajax

5-1

Volendam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

90'

2003.10.26

Eredivisie Dutch League
PSV Eindhoven

2-2

Ajax

 

83'

1

 

 

 

 

82'

2003.11.01

Eredivisie Dutch League
Ajax

3-2

AZ Alkmaar

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

90'

2003.11.09

Eredivisie Dutch League
ADO Den Haag

1-4

Ajax

 

62'

1

1

 

 

 

61'

2003.11.23

Eredivisie Dutch League
Ajax

3-1

Heerenveen

 

69'

1

 

 

 

 

68'

2003.11.30

Eredivisie Dutch League
Ajax

2-0

Feyenoord

 

62'

 

 

 

 

 

 

29'

2003.12.14

Eredivisie Dutch League
Ajax

1-0

Utrecht

 

46'

 

 

 

90'

 

 

45'

2004.03.14

Eredivisie Dutch League
Ajax

4-2

Roda

 

66'

 

 

1

 

 

 

25'

2004.03.21

Eredivisie Dutch League
Ajax

5-0

Vitesse

 

58'

 

1

 

 

 

 

33'

2004.03.28

Eredivisie Dutch League
AZ Alkmaar

1-1

Ajax

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

90'

2004.04.04

Eredivisie Dutch League
Ajax

2-1

Groningen

 

65'

 

 

 

 

 

64'

2004.04.11

Eredivisie Dutch League
Feyenoord

1-1

Ajax

 

79'

1

 

 

 

 

78'

2004.04.18

Eredivisie Dutch League
Ajax

1-1

Roosendaal

 

60'

 

 

 

 

 

 

31'

2004.04.25

Eredivisie Dutch League
NEC Nijmegen

0-0

Ajax

 

78'

 

 

 

 

 

77'

2004.05.09

Eredivisie Dutch League
Ajax

2-0

NAC Breda

 

71'

1

1

 

 

 

70'

2004.05.16

Eredivisie Dutch League
Willem II

2-5

Ajax

 

 

1

1

 

 

 

90'

 

16

6

11

13

5

2

 

 

1403'
 

DUTCH CUP

          
 
 
 
          
Start
Sub In
Sub Out
Goals
Assists
Yellow
Yel/Red
Red
Min

2003.12.17

KNVB Dutch Cup Round of 16
Ajax

0-1

NAC Breda

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

90'

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

90'
 

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

 

        
 
 
 
          
Start
Sub In
Sub Out
Goals
Assists
Yellow
Yel/Red
Red
Min

2003.08.12

UEFA Champions League Qual. R3 1:2
Grazer

1-1

Ajax

 

64'

 

 

 

 

 

 

27'

2003.08.27

UEFA Champions League Qual. R3 2:2
Ajax

2-1

Grazer

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

120'

 

1

1

 

1

 

 

 

 

147'
 

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

          
 
 
 
          
Start
Sub In
Sub Out
Goals
Assists
Yellow
Yel/Red
Red
Min

2003.09.16

UEFA Champions League Group Stage
Milan

1-0

Ajax

 

 

 

 

90'

 

 

90'

2003.10.01

UEFA Champions League Group Stage
Ajax

2-0

Club Brugge

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

90'

2003.10.22

UEFA Champions League Group Stage
Ajax

1-0

Celta Vigo

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

90'

2003.11.04

UEFA Champions League Group Stage
Celta Vigo

3-2

Ajax

 

70'

 

 

21'

 

 

69'

2003.11.26

UEFA Champions League Group Stage
Ajax

0-1

Milan

 

40'

 

 

 

 

 

39'

2003.12.09

UEFA Champions League Group Stage
Club Brugge

2-1

Ajax

 

71'

 

 

 

 

 

70'

 

6

 

3

1

1

2

 

 

448'