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I am Zlatan: Ibrahimovic gets his own word in Swedish dictionary

PSG striker has verb added among new words for 2012

Philip O'Connor
Friday 28 December 2012 14:04 EST
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sweden v England, November, selected by Glenn Moore It is not just the execution, which itself combines balletic grace with extraordinary athleticism, but the audacity of conception and the anticipation. Ibrahimovic is movi
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sweden v England, November, selected by Glenn Moore It is not just the execution, which itself combines balletic grace with extraordinary athleticism, but the audacity of conception and the anticipation. Ibrahimovic is movi (Getty Images)

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Sweden captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic has already written his name large in his country's sporting history books and now he is in the Swedish dictionary as well.

The Swedish Language Council has included the verb "zlatanera" - meaning "to dominate" - in its list of new words from 2012, it said on its website.

The verb "to zlatan" was originally coined by a satirical TV show in France, where Ibrahimovic plays for Paris Saint Germain. The word has been in common use in Swedish ever since.

Known for his spectacular goals, the muscular forward scored four times against England in November including with an outrageous overhead kick as Sweden came back to win 4-2 in the first international at the new Friends Arena in Stockholm.

Reuters

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