Markus Rosenberg’s final home game for Malmo before retirement is every reason we love football

It’s been a big week for Malmo.

With news that club legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic has bought a 25% share in their Stockholm rivals Hammarby, the club and their supporters have been in a state of disbelief and anger.

Some of their fans even took to vandalising their former striker’s statue outside of the stadium; such is the feeling of betrayal.

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Andreas Hillergren

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But amidst all of the headlines, the Swedish club had been in a celebratory mood ahead of their Thursday night Europa League clash with Dynamo Kiev — with fan favourite Markus Rosenberg set to play in front of the home support for the final time.

The 37-year-old forward — who started out at Malmo when he was just five before going onto play for the likes of Ajax and Werder Bremen — has spent 23 years of his career at the club in two stints but is retiring at the end of season with the Swedish campaign already over.

His final game is in fact their last Europa League group contest away to Copenhagen, but there was still plenty at stake before that one.

Malmo went into the game third in Group B just a point behind Copenhagen and opponents Kiev, but the crucial match against the Ukrainians was not going well and they trailed 2-1 at half-time.

Then, in the second-half the goals just kept coming, with Rosenberg netting the equaliser on the 48th minute with the score going to 3-3 with less than 15 minutes to go, while Kiev saw midfielder Sergiy Sydorchuk sent off.

Six minutes of added time was given and the match was poised for a grand finale; Malmo had one last counter-attack down the right-wing with the clock ticking.

With a hopeful cross sent into the box towards Rosenberg, the veteran striker instinctively lost his marker, found some space and fired home the first-time shot into the bottom corner; the dramatic late winner scored in his final ever minute at the Swedbank Stadion.

Cue some absolute scenes. 

Sure, Zlatan became Sweden’s most famous player after starting out at the club, but it was Rosenberg who will stay in the hearts of the Malmo supporters.

Sometimes, it feels like football just follows a script. 

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