00:00In the 21st century, Swedish football has been dominated by one word, Zlatan.
00:08I have a vision, I have my confidence and I believe in myself.
00:13People call it arrogant, I call it confidence.
00:16Even when people call it arrogant, intelligent people call it confidence.
00:23Zlatan Ibrahimović was named Sweden's Male Footballer of the Year every year from 2007 to 2016, winning the Gouldbolon on
00:34two further occasions for good measure.
00:39But in his 23-year career as a professional, he only made 47 appearances in Swedish competitions.
00:49For me, I saw the world. I wanted to be part of those things where the world sees me, not
00:56only Sweden.
00:57That was too small for me and I had bigger, bigger target than Sweden.
01:02I had bigger objective than Sweden. Sweden was my breakfast.
01:10Classic Zlatan.
01:11But in the modern game, dominated by superstars and mega clubs, not entirely unreasonable.
01:21But go back only a few years and Swedish football need not defer to one braggadocious individual.
01:28The likes of Lennart Johansson, Henrik Larsson and Sven Jørgen Eriksson ensured there was a Swedish accent at football's top
01:39table.
01:41Go back a few decades and you find a European football factory.
01:47Olympic gold in 1948 and World Cup silver ten years later were earned by individuals instrumental in the establishment of
01:56AC Milan as a European powerhouse.
02:02The Swedes have always proven exceptional hosts, welcoming the world in 1958 and Europe in 1992, with major European club
02:13football finals regularly stopping in the country.
02:20The last major international tournament in Sweden was the UEFA Women's Euro 2013, a reflection of the importance of women's
02:29football in the country.
02:33Winners of the inaugural Women's Euros in 1984, Sweden are regulars at the business end of the biggest competitions, but
02:43have made a habit of near misses.
02:48While clubs in Sweden have won more UEFA Women's Champions League titles than representatives from England's Women's Super League.
03:01A country with a rich football heritage and a deep football culture befitting an important football nation.
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