Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has praised Olof Mellberg following his retirement from professional football.
The 36-year-old has decided to hang up his boots following the expiration of his contract with Danish outfit FC Copenhagen.
Ibrahimovic was Mellberg's teammate for a number of years in the Swedish national side and he has paid tribute to a player that he says challenged him and made him want to be a better player.
"The day Olof Mellberg decided to quit the national team it was a great loss to Swedish football and the team," Ibrahimovic wrote on his official Facebook page.
"But to me personally it was an even greater loss. When I had him on the team I never had to look back because I knew he was behind me and I could concentrate on what was going on up ahead.
"Olof was the person that triggered and challenged me. This drove me to want to do more on the pitch. Olof had a winner mentality like no other. He simply refused to lose, not only in football but in practically everything."
Mellberg won 117 caps for Sweden and played for his country in two World Cups and four European Championships.
Alex Meyers
