Zlatan Ibrahimovic is preparing to face 48th European opponent in Rostov... but who else has Manchester United star played during illustrious career?

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Manchester United enter uncharted territory on Thursday but in Zlatan Ibrahimovic, they have a striker who knows only too well what it takes to face a new opponent.

The experienced Swede and his Red Devils team-mates are preparing to face Rostov in the first leg of their Europa league last-16 clash, where they go up against a team who have only played top level European competition football for three years.

And the clash in Russia, which takes place at the Olimp-2 Stadium, will see the 35-year-old star go up against his 48th different opponent in European competition.

Manchester United star Zlatan Ibrahimovic is preparing for the Europa League last-16 clash 

Experienced forward is in Russia ahead of United's first-leg match against Rostov on Thursday 

After making his debut in the UEFA Cup - now known as the Europa League - for Ajax in 2001, Ibrahimovic has gone on to play against 47 different teams in Europe.

Those appearances have come for seven different clubs in 16 years, with the striker also going on to play for Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain before he linked up with United last summer.

Surprisingly, however, the striker has never enjoyed a triumph in European competition despite his undoubted experience playing at the highest level.

After just one season playing UEFA Cup football with Ajax - where they were knocked out in the second round - he spent the whole of his career playing in the Champions League before he was made to settle for the Europa League with United this season. 

The striker has only reached the Champions League semi-finals on one occasion, with Barcelona in 2010, and faced quarter-final heartbreak eight times.

But Thursday evening's match against Russian outfit Rostov will mark yet another personal achievement for the former Sweden international. 

Ibrahimovic pictured in action for Dutch side Ajax during a UEFA Cup clash in September, 2001

After leaving Ajax, the Swedish striker joined Juventus to play in the Champions League 

His manager, Jose Mourinho, will hope his experience playing at the highest level for over 16 years will help his side secure a triumph this season. 

Ibrahimovic has travelled the continent throughout his illustrious career, playing against some of the biggest teams in Europe. 

During his time playing for Juventus, Inter, Barca, AC Milan and PSG he has come up against the likes of Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Liverpool and Real Madrid. 

The forward has yet to experience the excitement of a European competition final but knows he has every chance of doing so this season. 

The Swede looks on during Inter Milan's Champions League tie with Liverpool in 2008

During his illustrious career, the star has also played for Barcelona in European competition

United will, however, have to overcome Rostov and Ibrahimovic is no stranger to playing against minnows.

The smaller names he has played against include Apollon Limassol, Anorthosis Famagusta, Viktoria Plzen BATE Borisov and Zorya Luhansk, who he faced with United this season.

Should Ibrahimovic and Co secure first-leg advantage on Thursday, they will have to do so playing on a poor playing surface.

Rostov trained on a separate training pitch on Wednesday to avoid damaging the surface further, but Mourinho was deeply unimpressed by what he saw.

Ibrahimovic runs with ball during Champions League tie between AC Milan and BATE Borisov

The experienced striker pictured in action playing for PSG against Chelsea in March, 2015 

'It's still hard for me to believe that we are going to play Thursday,' said Mourinho.

'I know we have to, but I find it hard to believe we are going to play on that field, if you can call it a field. 

'I don't know which team to play, really. I have now a lot to think because I was expecting something more playable.' 

But Ibrahimovic will know what's playable and what isn't - and he'll be looking to prove that to opponent No 48 on Thursday.

This season he had to settle for the Europa League - pictured against Saint-Etienne last month

Jose Mourinho is angry at state of Rostov's pitch ahead of United's Europa League last-16 tie