CARSON, Calif. – Sigi Schmid is excited to add Zlatan Ibrahimović’s championship pedigree to his revamped LA Galaxy squad.
On Friday, the Galaxy announced the signing of Ibrahimović, using Targeted Allocation Money. The 36-year-old Swedish striker is one of the global game’s most accomplished players with 33 titles won and more than 400 club goals in his professional career.
Ibrahimović’s signing is the cherry on top for the team’s offseason makeover that saw Schmid shakeup his squad by adding players such as Ola Kamara, Perry Kitchen, and David Bingham.
Now, just two games into the season, Schmid is ready to add Ibrahimović to the fold.
“Good players always appreciate when good players are added to the team. That’s the integration. Historically, he’s a player who has won championships in leagues around the world. That’s part of his DNA,” Schmid said. “He’s a winner because he’s won. That’s part of what he brings to the table.
“Having gone through the experience of winning allows you to pass that on through your actions and your approach to training and games, which others can learn from.”
With Ibrahimović’s signature secured, the hard work begins for Schmid and his coaching staff as they look to integrate the target man into a talented Galaxy offense.
Schmid describes the impending lineup decisions as a “good problem” for the Galaxy to have and even the Galaxy boss, who is the winningest coach in Major League Soccer history, admits to being excited about the opportunity to coach one of the world’s greatest players.
“You always get excited coaching big players. He’s certainly a huge name,” Schmid said. “I feel proud and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to be able to work with him and be able to coach him. To have him on the Galaxy is something that I’m excited about because you’re adding a player with such a winning history.”
For Schmid, to have signed a player of his caliber for Targeted Allocation Money shows that the Swedish legend is serious about helping this team bring home another title to StubHub Center.
“He could have made moves that were far more financially lucrative to him elsewhere, but he wanted to be here,” said Schmid. “It is a move that earns everyone’s respect and attention. The fact that his desire to be a part of the Los Angeles Galaxy is so strong.
“He wants to be part of winning a championship with the LA Galaxy. It’s something that I want our fans to truly appreciate and respect. I know our players appreciate and understand that this is a guy who wants to be part of us.”
