Zlatan Ibrahimović details childhood poverty and family struggles

In his autobiography ‘Adrenalin’, footballer Zlatan Ibrahimović details a difficult childhood marked by poverty and family instability. He describes growing up in Sweden while facing social shame due to lack of resources, such as wearing the same tracksuit or hiding football socks under jeans to avoid being mocked at school.

Ibrahimović reveals that his family dynamic was shaped by his father, Šefik Ibrahimović—a folk singer who performed across the former Yugoslavia—struggling with alcoholism. Zlatan recalls intense arguments between his parents and a lack of paternal support during his early years. Conversely, he highlights the immense labor of his mother, who worked two jobs and rose at 4:00 AM to provide for five children.

Upon receiving his first professional salary at Ajax, Ibrahimović committed to supporting his mother so she would no longer have to work. While he shares fond memories of occasional outings with his father, he notes that they rarely speak now.