Zlatan Ibrahimovic Pays Tribute to Late Brother, Ex-Players in Emotional Speech

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was named Sweden's footballer of the year for the ninth time on Monday night and used the occasion to remember his late brother and two former Swedish players who recently died. 

The Paris Saint-Germain star's older brother Sapko died in April this year after a long illness. 

Sapko's death was followed recently by the passing of former Sweden World Cup star and ex-Sheffield Wednesday player Klas Ingesson to cancer and former Swedish league defender Pontus Segerstrom, who died of a brain tumour.

After receiving his award, a clearly emotional Ibrahimovic said in words translated by the Daily Mail:

"

All these awards that I've received, it means that I've achieved something, and that I'm good at what I'm doing, but it's overshadowed by what happened to Klas Ingesson and Pontus Segerstrom.

I had a brother who passed away a couple of months ago in a similar disease. There's a life besides football that is much more important than this. So... may they rest in peace.

 

"

Earlier in the ceremony, Ibrahimovic had some fun with a horn, one similar to what his father honks whenever he scores a goal.  

"

The King! Zlatan won Swedish player of the year for the 8th consecutive time last night. Bring on the horn! https://t.co/gpWhxT2RtJ #PSG

— 1970 PSG (@1970_PSG) November 11, 2014"

It was the eighth year in a row and ninth in total that Ibrahimovic has won Sweden's "Golden Ball."

The last time somebody else won the prize was 2006, when ex-Arsenal man Freddie Ljungberg was honoured. 

[YouTube, h/t Daily Mail]