Los Angeles: Los Angeles Galaxy forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic set himself a daunting challenge for the upcoming Major League Soccer season by vowing to rewrite the league record book this year.
The 37-year-old former Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain forward unveiled new Galaxy jerseys in a flashy entrance, then told a crowd of fans his ambitious plans for the 2019 campaign.
“This season I will bring something to you. I will break every record in the MLS this season,” Ibrahimovic said.
The Swede scored 22 goals and set up 10 more in 27 MLS games last season, launching him into the new season with great expectations.
The Galaxy, who host their season opener against Chicago Fire, went 13-12 with nine drawn last season to miss the MLS playoffs by a single point.
Among the more impressive MLS records Zlatan would be trying to shatter, are goals in nine consecutive games, an assist in eight consecutive matches and four goals in one half.
Josef Martinez of Atlanta set the one-season MLS goals record with 31 in 34 games played last year.
Former Colombian hero Carlos Valderrama, then of Tampa Bay, set the record for assists with 26 in 32 games in 2000. Other marks include 181 shots in a season and 76 shots on goal in a season.
AFP