The King of Kings. Perhaps Celtic and Scottish football will never see a World class player like Henrik Larsson ever again…
01.07.1995 Copyright: imago/VI Images Henrik Larsson – Feyenoord
Legend, world class, superstar, icon. That’s just a few of the words you can use to describe the one and only Henrik Larsson, our self proclaimed King of Kings.
Henrik is undoubtedly a Celtic legend and will be remembered in the same ilk as the likes of Willie Maley, Patsy Gallagher, Jimmy McGrory, Charlie Tully, Jock Stein and the Lisbon Lions, Kenny Dalglish, Danny McGrain and Paul McStay. He was that good and deserves to be immortalised just like these legendary figures.
Those of us lucky enough to watch Henrik in his pomp will be telling our grandkids the same kind of stories told to us about the likes of the Lisbon Lions by our fathers and grandfathers. Henrik was that good, and sometimes you only appreciate how good he was when you rewatch the old clips. He was genuinely World class.
When Jim Craig asked Bertie Auld if Henrik Larsson would have been good enough to get into the Lisbon Lions side, Wee Bertie did not hesitate in saying, definitely. Jim Craig then asked where he’d play him, Bertie replies “at right back!”
Henrik was the last world class footballer to play for our club, and indeed the last one to play in Scottish football, no one even comes remotely close to matching Henrik Larsson. And it’s frustrating that we’re unlikely to see his likes again wearing the Hoops.
Stockholm – Henrik Larsson arriving at Arlanda airport with band aid on his nose Thursday November 6,1997 after an incident/fight/Glasgow Kiss with Tosh McKinlay during todays practise with his team Celtic in Glasgow.Photo Gunnar Seijbold
He had strength, he was skilful, he was deadly with both feet, for someone who wasn’t the biggest he was also one of the best headers of a ball I’ve ever seen. His two goals in Seville are testament to that. He was the complete centre forward, the perfect footballer, he was also a leader and a real team player and he found a home in football at Celtic and despite the offers from elsewhere he was happy to stay at Celtic for seven magical years. Compare and contrast with so many others who couldn’t wait to get a move, the most recent just last summer when Jota chased the money rather than the Glory and the Dream.
Barcelona, SPAIN: Barcelona’s (L to R) Henck Tencate, Gabri Garcia and Henrik Larsson celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League at the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona, 18 May 2006. FC Barcelona won the UEFA Champions League final football match Barcelona vs Arsenal, 17 May 2006 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, northern Paris. Barcelona won 2-1. (Photo CESAR RANGEL/AFP via Getty Images)
No one can even use the ‘he only did it in Scotland’ excuse. Henrik gave Celtic his best years then left to do it all again and Barcelona and finally at ManchesterUnited. He was outstanding in European football at club level, and at international level he scored in European Championships and World Cups. He was idolised in the world game.
If he was playing today, in his prime Henrik would command a hefty price tag. That’s not in question.
Manchester United’s Swedish forward Henrik Larsson celebrates scoring against Lille during their UEFA Champions League first knockout round, second leg football match at Old Trafford, Manchester, north-west England, 07 March 2007. (Photo ANDREW YATES/AFP via Getty Images)
Sadly we will never see his likes at Celtic or in Scottish football again for that matter. Legend is a word used loosely these days, but Henrik Larsson is and always will be a legend at Celtic football club and incidentally also at Barcelona. Thanks for all the Celtic memories, Henrik, the Celtic support will be talking about you in a hundred years from now, that is guaranteed.
Enjoy our King of Kings Photo Gallery of Henrik starring for Celtic, below…
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
9 May 1998: Henrik Larsson of Celtic celebrates after a Scottish Premier League match against St Johnstone at Celtic Park.. Celtic won the match 2-0 to become the league champions. Photo Shaun Botterill/Allsport
27 Aug 2000: Henrik Larsson of Celtic celebrates during the Scottish Premier League match against Rangers at Celtic Park in Glasgow, Scotland. Celtic won the game 6 – 2. Photo: Stu Forster /Allsport
27 Aug 2000: Chris Sutton and Henrik Larsson of Celtic during the Scottish Premier League match against Rangers at Celtic Park in Glasgow, Scotland. Celtic won the game 6 – 2. Photo: Stu Forster /Allsport
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18 Mar 2001: Henrik Larsson of Celtic is congratulated by his manager Martin O”Neill as his hat-trick won the cup for his team after the Scottish CIS Insurance Cup Final against Kilmarnock played at Hampden Park, in Glasgow, Scotland. Celtic won the match 3-0. Photo Jamie McDonald /Allsport
26 May 2001: Henrik Larsson of Celtic celebrates scoring the second goal during the Tennents Scottish FA Cup Final between Celtic v Hibernian at Hampden Park, Photo Laurence Griffiths/ALLSPORT
18 Sep 2001: Henrik Larsson of Celtic celebrates scoring from the penalty spot during the match between Juventus and Celtic in the Champions League first group stage at the Delle Alpi Stadio, Turin. Photo Gary M. Prior/ALLSPORT
6 Dec 2001: Henrik Larsson of Celtic celebrates after opening the scoring during the UEFA Cup third Round second Leg match between Celtic and Valencia at Celtic Park, Photo: Dave Rogers/ALLSPORT
Henrik Larsson of Celtic celebrates scoring Celtic’s second goal during the Bank of Scotland Premier League match between Celtic and Dundee held on December 21, 2002 at Celtic Park in Glasgow, Scotland. Celtic won the match 2-0. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
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Henrik Larsson of Celtic scores Celitc’s first goal during the UEFA Cup Quarter Final first leg match between Glasgow Celtic and Liverpool held on March 13, 2003 at Celtic Park in Glasgow, Scotland. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. (Photo by Ben Radford/Getty Images)
Henrik Larsson of Celtic celebrates scoring during the the UEFA Cup Semi-Final between Boavista FC and Glasgow Celtic held on April 24, 2003 at the Bessa Stadium in Porto, Portugal. Celtic won the match 1-0. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
Photo taken 21 May 2004 shows Celtic FC Swedish forward Henrik Larsson after scoring for his team during the soccer UEFA Final Cup agaisnt FC Porto Seville. Photo CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP via Getty Images)
Barcelona’s Puyol (L) looks on as Celtic’s Henrik Larsson tries an overhead kick during their UEFA Cup fourth round, first leg football match at Celtic Park on 11 March, 2004. Photo IAN STEWART/AFP via Getty Images)
Celtic’s Henrik Larsson celebrates with Stilian Petrov after scoring against Teplice in their third round first leg UEFA match 26 February 2004.. (Photo IAN STEWART/AFP via Getty Images)
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Henrik Larsson of Celtic salutes the crowd after scoring his second goal during the UEFA Cup match between Celtic and FK Teplice at Celtic Park on February 26, 2004 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Henrik Larsson of Celtic celebrates scoring the first goal for Celtic during the UEFA Cup Quarter Final match between Celtic and Villarreal at Celtic Park on April 8, 2004 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Henrik Larsson of Celtic scores his second goal during the 119th Scottish Tennents Cup Final between Celtic and Dunfermline held at Hampden Park on May 22, 2004 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Celtic fans show their support for recently departed Henrik Larsson of Barcelona who returned tonight in the UEFA Champions League Group F match between Celtic and Barcelona at Celtic Park on September 14, 2004 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
