Number 9

Ajax's Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic scores his team's first goal against Roda JC Kerkrade during their Amstel Cup soccer match in Amsterdam, 05 February 2003.

The honour of slipping on the celebrated number nine shirt at Ajax Amsterdam, formerly graced by such greats as Marco Van Basten and Patrick Kluivert, is one that would weigh heavily on many a striker's shoulders.

Sweden's Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been responding brilliantly to the pressure of that heritage.

Jubilation of Ajax forward Swedish Zlatan Ibrahimovic (face) and Ajax goalkeeper Romanian Bogdan Lobont after the Champions' league match AS Roma - Ajax Amsterdan, 19 March 2003 at the Rome's Olympic Stadium. AS Roma and Ajax Amsterdam drawn 1-1 and Ajax is qualified. AFP PHOTO GABRIEL BOUYS

Growing up in the rough and tumble suburb of Rosengord, Malmo, where he was born from Bosnian roots in October 1981, he began to play for local side FK Balkan before Malmo FF signed him at 14.

Zlatan soon shot up to an imposing 1m92 but with his slender frame and size 47 boots he is a technically gifted striker with a great sense of vision and a nose for goal.

Five star

Sweden's national soccer forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (L) Swedish national headcoach Tommy Soederberg (C) and coach Lars Lagerbaeck shares a laugh during a training session at Old Trafford in Manchester , 09 November 2001. Sweden play England in an international friendly at Old Trafford in Manchester 10 November.

The national coaching duo of Tommy Soderberg and Lars Lagerback were swift on the uptake and gave him his international debut in January 2001 against the Faroe Islands.

Since the free-scoring Henrick Larsson came out of international retirement just ahead of Euro 2004, the debate has raged as to who will feature in the Sweden attack out in Portugal.

The coaches prefer a lone striker and always lean on experience, but will they make an exception for this formidable talent.

He bagged his first international goal against Azerbaijan in October 2001, shortly after joining Ajax in July that year.

Ajax's Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic cheers after his 2-0 goal against FC Groningen during their Amstel Cup quarterfinal match in Amsterdam 05 March 2003.

After a tough first season in Amsterdam, Ibrahimovic won the double with Ajax before going on to take part in his first World Cup, where he made two appearances.

But it was not until his five goals in the Champions League 2002-2003 campaign, where a youthful and multi-talented Ajax missed a semi-final spot by a whisker, that European football stood up and took notice of his talents.

In January 2004 the striker decided to undergo a groin opperation to resolve a nagging injury ahead of the Euro and was sidelined for two months, before Ajax again sealed the Dutch title in May.

He would seem to have the world at his feet and only needs now to iron out his temper and fine tune his sense of postioning to become one of the stars of the Euro 2004 finals.