Ibra autobiography in running for top prize

STOCKHOLM (AFP) –

Sweden’s national football team player Zlatan Ibrahimovic attends a training session, on May 24, 2012 in Visby, Sweden. The best-selling autobiography of the Swedish captain has been short-listed for a prestigious literary award in his native country, the jury said.

The best-selling autobiography of Swedish captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been short-listed for a prestigious literary award in his native country, the jury said on Monday.

“Jag är Zlatan Ibrahimovic” (I am Zlatan Ibrahimovic), written by the Paris Saint Germain player with Swedish journalist David Lagercrantz, was named among six titles selected to compete for The August Prize to be awarded on November 26.

The jury described the book as “a precise narration that leaves a lasting impression”. “A sensitive and harsh description that takes the reader from the stands to the pitch and into Zlatan’s world,” it continued.

“Slowly and surely a daily life in unveiled, both rough and golden, which opens the doors of the kitchen at Rosengaard to the Milan locker room.”

The autobiography which was published in November 2011 was one of the all-time Swedish best-sellers — selling more than 500,000 copies in his homeland.

It follows 31-year-old Ibrahimovic’s life from his tough youth in one of Malmo’s poorest areas, Rosengaard, to his rise to fame through his professional football career, including years spent at Ajax, Juventus, Inter and AC Milan, and Spanish giants Barcelona.