Henrik Larsson

It just gets more beautiful every time you see it Crow

 

Could watch it everyday.

 

http://www.celticnewsnow.com/news/l...k&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=FacebookFeed

 

Imagine if a player a few months shy of his 33rd birthday left Celtic for Barcelona, and then played a big part in them winning the Champions League.
It just wouldn't happen in 2017. Celtic have proved they have an eye for a player in recent seasons, making big profits on Virgil van Dijk, Victor Wanyama and Fraser Forster when they joined Premier League clubs.

And Moussa Dembele could end up playing for one of the Champions League's elite teams.

However, it's difficult to imagine any current player being capable of making the step-up from Scottish football to Barcelona, let alone a 32-year-old.

Yet, that's exactly what Henrik Larsson did in 2004.

The Swedish forward was a legend at Celtic, helping them win four Scottish titles, two Scottish Cups and two Scottish League Cups. He was the league's top scorer in five seasons while in Glasgow, and Europe's top scorer in the 2000/01 with 35 goals.

Larsson also scored twice as Celtic narrowly lost the 2003 Uefa Cup final to Porto in Seville. He scored 242 goals in 313 games for Celtic, and helped end Rangers' dominance of Scottish football.

When Larsson decided to leave Celtic in 2004 on a free transfer, he choose Barcelona.

The Swede, who would later have a short loan spell at Manchester United, has explained why he left Celtic, and revealed how many clubs were interested in signing him.

"It was hard but I felt that if I didn't score for a couple of games, the (Scottish) media would say, 'He's not the same Larsson any more' and I wanted to quit while I was ahead," Larsson told Four Four Two.



"I had one year left on my contract and, in order to stop all the speculation, I wanted to declare as early as possible that I wouldn't sign an extension at Celtic – I didn't want any misinterpretations.

"There were more than 30 clubs interested, and I was looking to Spain because my dream was to play somewhere warm. I didn’t want to be fighting relegation, so I thought I would be pleased if it was a team in the middle. But then Barca came in and I said, 'Yes!'"

Just a few months into his time at the Nou Camp, Larsson suffered an injury to his anterior cruciate ligament, the second serious injury of his career.

Yet, he still came back to play a key role in the team winning La Liga and the Champions League the following season.

The forward came-off the bench in the 2006 Champions League final against Arsenal, and proved the difference between the teams.

Arsenal were down to 10-men, after Jens Lehmann was sent-off, but held a 1-0 lead thanks to Sol Campbell's first-half goal.

Larsson, with two passes in five minutes, changed the game and helped Barcelona win their second Champions League title.

First, the Swede set-up Samuel Eto'o with a deft touch.


Then Larsson, in his final game for the club, played-in Juliano Belletti with a brilliant reverse pass.

After the final in Paris, Thierry Henry singled Larsson out for praise, saying: "People will talk about [Samuel] Eto'o and Ronaldinho a lot, but they should be talking about the players who made the difference like Henrik Larsson with his two assists."

It was clear Larsson's fellow professionals held him in high esteem, and Ronaldinho's nickname for him proves just how great he was.

The Brazilian was one of the best players of his generation, and arguably the best player in the world between 2004 and 2006, but he referred to Larsson as his 'idol'.

"He used to joke every morning, 'Hey, idolo, idolo!'" Larsson said.

"That was great! It wasn't just about what he did on the pitch; you have to realise the pressure he was under at a club like Barcelona. I take my hat off to him for still being able to come in every morning with a big smile on his face. He's a great human being."

Ronaldinho, back in 2007 when Larsson joined United, spoke about his admiration for his former teammate.

"When he came to Barcelona, Henrik said nice things about me but by the time he left he was my idol," the former Barcelona forward said.

"In fact, he was my idol even before that. I remember him playing for Sweden in the 1994 World Cup. Henrik taught me a lot about football and I learned even more from him as a person. I was disappointed that he left for Sweden because I would have loved to have played with him for longer."






https://www.joe.co.uk/sport/ronaldi...ow-great-the-former-celtic-striker-was/114434

 

Just watched a video with the Mrs who's a hearts fan (and us now if she's being honest).

Best player we've ever seen. Nearly shed a tear at his last interview. What a legend.

 

Been watching old highlight of Henrik from his old clubs etc uncanny how similar he was when young at Sweden and Feyenoord to at us, same finishes, rounding keepers, nutmegs, dummying it and making runs in behind etc.

Funny wee clip too



Flying through Ronald de Boer and Van Bronkhorst his own team mate, two future huns.

 

I can actually remember him coming on as a sub for Sweden(maybe a couple of times?)_ in whatever major Champs was on at the time. My first instinct was i didnt like the * as his hair annoyed me!Thought he was an attention seeker. Thank the lord we gave him the attention he needed!

 

That game there, Henrik with typical header, corner delivery from Regi Blinker lol Ronaldo playing for PSV seen celebrating a goal with Arthur Numan. Ronald Wattereus in goals for PSV as well, place was littered with future huns n tims.

 

1994 World Cup probably, he scored against Bulgaria exact type of goal he scored many times for us, beat the offside trap rounded the keeper, turned back inside a defender and rolled it in the net. Was mostly used as a sub that World Cup although he played on the right of midfield in a game against Brazil 1-1 draw in the Group Stage where Romario actually dribbled past him and Henrik was chasing him back as he ran in and scored the Brazil goal.

 

* statto!!! lol

 

I actually just watched the highlights of it earlier on. Sweden goal was a peach against Brazil, Kennet Andersson chesting it then volleying it over the Brazil keeper from quite an angle bit like something youd imagine rom Van Basten or Bergkamp. You probably remember it if you watched it again and seen it at the time.

 

Joking mate. I am going to watch it.

 

On this day in 2003 Henrik scored in a 1-1 UEFA Cup Quarter-Final First Leg draw with Liverpool

 

Seriously thought I was going to have a heart attack that night. After the 'Walk On' it was just relentless noise!!!

Henrik's first game back from injury screaming his name then Big John hits the bar, * bedlam when that goal went in. Turned to my old man and said "you ok?", he just nodded

 

I was in the pub with my dad watching everyone went mental at the goal.


The next day I was buzzing going to school Celtic top and all.

 

Stopping 10 in a Row was a miracle signing. He was exactly what we needed.

Amazing move by Barca to notice how good he still was at that age. Felt so great for him that night he won the CL, a player of that quality deserves the highest of honours. But the fact when he came on I instinctively knew it was game over for Arsenal. That's how good he was.

He was fantastic for us in the Uefa Cup Final too, sooo close!!! What a big game player. Sad but proud night that though.

Imagine Ronaldinho calling you his idol. I can see why though, Larsson had the ultimate footballing brain.

Wasn't it 53 goals in 50 games he won the Golden Boot with?

 

We all know how great he is, he was probably the best striker in Europe at one point but no one outside Celtic would believe that.

But when you see somebody play the game like he did, his movement, his goals, he's eye for a pass, he's heading ability he had it all, even in his older years you'd see he hasn't lost that spring in his step and was still thinking and playing faster then his opposition, remember watching him for UTD and he'd always find space that other players didn't.

I'd say if he was at barca during his peak years he would have got 75 goals in one season at least.

Once in a lifetime player.