LONDON: Zlatan Ibrahimovic proved his hunger for silverware has not diminished with age as the Swede sealed the first major silverware of Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United reign and broke Southampton’s hearts by powering in a late header to clinch a dramatic 3-2 win in an absorbing League Cup final at Wembley on Sunday.

After a stirring Saints fightback revived memories of their shock 1976 FA Cup final victory over United and with extra time looming, the 35-year-old Ibrahimovic pounced to head Ander Herrera’s cross past goalkeeper Fraser Forster.

It was Ibrahimovic’s second goal in the final after putting United ahead from a sublime first-half free kick, taking the 35-year-old Swede’s tally to 26 goals in an incredible first season at United where his performances have more than lived up to the swagger.

That bravado was flaunted on the Wembley pitch amid the celebrations.

Asked by a television reporter if something special was unfolding at United, Ibrahimovic replied: “I came. That’s special.”

Ibrahimovic was one of Mourinho’s marquee signings in the close-season and he repaid his manager’s faith with a typically dominant display on the big occasion.

It ensured Mourinho became the first manager in United history to win a trophy in his first season at Old Trafford, adding to his three League Cup triumphs with Chelsea to put him alongside former United manager Alex Ferguson and Nottingham Forest great Brian Clough as the most successful managers in the competition.

“[It] is quite a sense of relief,” the 54-year-old Mourinho said after collecting the 19th major trophy of his glittering career.

United’s fragile defense, though, nearly contrived to throw away the chance of glory.

Although Jesse Lingard extended United’s lead in the 38th minute after Ibrahimovic opened the scoring with a blistering 19th-minute free-kick, Manolo Gabbiadini sparked a thrilling Southampton fightback, scoring just before half-time and again early in the second half.

Both sides could have snatched victory but in the end it was the irrepressible Ibrahimovic who stole the limelight with a bullet header in the 87th minute.

Now Ibrahimovic has won a major trophy in a fifth country after honors in France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands.

Although Wayne Rooney went up to collect the trophy as captain, that was his only role at Wembley. The 31-year-old forward was forced to watch from the bench as his older teammate produced an ageless, match-winning contribution.

“This is a team effort. This is what I came for — to win and I am winning. I have to keep going because the more I win, the more satisfied I get,” said Ibrahimovic, who has won silverware at Ajax Amsterdam, Inter Milan, Juventus, Barcelona and Paris St Germain.

The striker didn’t cost United any transfer fee when he joined in the summer transfer window as a free agent after leaving PSG. He sought another final challenge, even in the twilight of his career, rather than an easy-pay day in an inferior league.

“You appreciate winning more the older you get, it’s all about winning and collecting trophies,” he said. “This is my 32nd trophy. Wherever I have been, I have won.”

With United trailing well behind Premier League leaders Chelsea, Mourinho needed this success to guarantee players, fans and the club’s hierarchy remain in his corner.

But the serial winner will hope the victory acts as a catalyst to claim bigger prizes in the near future, just as it did when the League Cup was the first silverware of his maiden spell with Chelsea.

“Ibrahimovic won the game for us because he was outstanding,” Mourinho said. “Our opponents were better than us for long periods of the game and didn’t deserve to lose over 90 minutes. Ibrahimovic made the difference. He gave us a cup.”

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2017