Agencies/Stockholm


Sweden captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic said yesterday he was considering moving to the Swedish capital, Stockholm, when he retires from professional football. “I want to live in Sweden. I want my children to pick up Swedish traditions since they have always lived abroad,” Ibrahimovic said in an
interview with Stockholm daily
Dagens Nyheter.
The 33-year-old Paris Saint-Germain star said he did not plan on returning to his home city of Malmo in southern Sweden. Earlier this year, he sold a villa in Malmo that he had spent large sums on renovating after realizing he would not move back to his home city.  “Not Malmo, perhaps Stockholm,” he said when asked where he would settle in Sweden. “Stockholm is bigger, there are more options, better possibilities and it is easier to move around there,” he added.
The striker - who has played for clubs in Sweden, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and France - has invested some of his fortune in property. Two years ago he bought a deconsecrated church in the upmarket Stockholm district of Ostermalm that is being converted into a private home.
Ibrahimovic said he also planned more business projects, and has launched his own perfume brand. Future plans include travelling with his family, his partner Helena Seger and their two sons aged 7 and 9.
“I want to enjoy life,” he said. “For 15 years I have had a schedule with football, football, football and only football. I have enjoyed these 15 years but for my children’s sake I want to do things I haven’t been able to as an active player.”
Staying in shape was also necessary and Ibrahimovic said he was toying with the idea of taking up another competitive sport after his football career ends. The article included an illustration and explanation of the tattoos Ibrahimovic has on his arms, chest and back. Several of them refer to family members.  

Ong replaces Dollah as Malaysia coach  
Former international midfielder Ong Kim Swee has taken over as caretaker coach of Malaysia after Dollah Salleh’s resignation in the wake of the record 10-0 defeat by United Arab Emirates in World Cup qualifying.
Dollah announced he had quit upon returning to Kuala Lumpur on Friday and the Football Association of Malaysia acted swiftly to install 44-year-old Ong, who previously coached the Tigers in a four-month stint last year before Dollah took over.
“To fill the void left by Dollah, FAM reached an agreement to appoint Kim Swee as caretaker of the national squad with immediate effect for the fourth qualifier against Saudi Arabia in the Shah Alam Stadium on Tuesday ... and so on until a date to be announced,” FAM said in a statement on its website yesterday.
Malaysia is currently bottom of Group A in Asian qualifying for the 2018 World Cup after three matches. The UAE lead the group on goal difference from Saudi Arabia.