Former Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic discussed the managerial temperament of Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti on June 14, 2026, following the South American team's difficult World Cup opening match against Morocco.
The retired forward, currently serving as a Senior Advisor for RedBird Capital Partners and Operating Partner at AC Milan, shared insights during his role as a Fox Sports television analyst covering the tournament.
The discussion arose after analysts questioned how Ancelotti would react to the disappointing performance of the Seleçao in the dressing room.
Ibrahimovic and Ancelotti previously worked together during the 2012-2013 season at Paris Saint-Germain, where they secured the Ligue 1 title.
Ancelotti's Hidden Intensity
"I remember a match where, at the end of the game, he was not at all happy with the team.
I was sitting and he kicked a crate that hit me in the forehead. I was surprised, because no one had ever done that to me.
But Carlo did it," said Ibrahimovic.
The anecdote surprised fellow broadcasters in the studio, prompting further explanation from the former international player about the Italian manager's hidden intensity.
"He also has his dark side, and that's something I like, because that's the spark.
He can control it, he manages it and then he lets it go," said Ibrahimovic.
The former striker clarified that the physical incident did not damage their long-term professional relationship during their single season in France.
"I think he wanted to make an example of me, maybe to teach me to head the ball and score.
Maybe during that match I had missed a header, something like that," said Ibrahimovic.
According to reports from Sporting News, Ibrahimovic is participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup exclusively as a media pundit following his complete retirement from professional football in 2023.
The Swedish national team qualified for the tournament without their historic goalscorer, who debuted internationally in 2001 and accumulated 62 goals across 122 caps.
The striker concluded a senior club career featuring 405 goals in 637 appearances across teams including Malmo, Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, PSG, Manchester United, the LA Galaxy, and AC Milan.
