Ibrahimović takes top Swedish award

FC Internazionale Milano striker Zlatan Ibrahimović has been named Sweden's Player of the Year for 2007.

Excellent form
The 26-year-old, who also won the award in 2005, has been in exceptional form for the Italian champions this season, scoring seven Serie A goals to add to the 15 he struck in last term's Scudetto-winning campaign. Moreover he is the joint-leading marksman in the 2007/08 UEFA Champions League alongside Manchester United FC's Cristiano Ronaldo, having registered four goals in as many games to propel Inter to the top of Group G.

International return
Ibrahimović, capped 47 times, ended a self-imposed exile from the Sweden squad in March and has played an important role in their UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying campaign. Sweden go into their concluding matches away to Spain and at home to Latvia as Group F leaders, needing just a point to seal their place in Austria and Switzerland.

'For the kids'
"This award is, first and foremost, for all the kids out there," Ibrahimović said as he collected the Guldbollen. "If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't play this well." Ibrahimović was also chosen as his country's forward of the year. The other individual prizes went to Fredrikstad FK's Rami Shaaban (best goalkeeper), Stade Rennais FC's Petter Hansson (best defender) and Galatasaray AS's Tobias Linderoth (best midfielder).

Coaching accolade
IFK Göteborg pair Jonas Olsson and Stefan Rehn were rewarded for their side's Allsvenskan championship triumph with the best coach accolade, while Gefle IF forward Johan Oremo was rookie of the year. Therese Sjögran of Malmö DFF claimed the Diamantbollen as the women's footballer of the year.