Henrik Larsson is the best Celtic player of my lifetime. Others will have a different opinion, but It’s just a generational thing…
This football club has seen numerous fantastic footballers don the famous green and white hoops, But who is the greatest ever to grace the sacred shirt?
There’s so many to choose from. The likes of Jimmy Quinn, Alec McNair, Patsy Gallacher, Jimmy McGrory, Charlie Tully, Jimmy Johnstone, Bobby Lennox, Billy McNeill, Bobby Murdoch, Kenny Dalglish, Danny McGrain and Paul McStay can be considered more than worthy of that accolade.
I can’t even comprehend answering that question, it’s like being asked who your favourite child is (unless you only have the one!) or your favourite Oasis song (yes I am a fan) or your best Still Game episode. You get the drift.
Everyone will have a different opinion as some supporters will have witnessed the legendary Lisbon Lions, the genius of Kenny Dalglish and Danny McGrain, and the magic of Paul McStay.
Some like me will say Henrik Larsson as they can vividly remember his greatness and seen him numerous times in the flesh. Henrik was the last true world class player to have played for the club, and his contributions need no explanation.
Paul McStay was my first real Celtic idol growing up and I can vaguely recall his greatness when he was in his prime, but I felt that Paul suffered by playing in a poor Celtic side in a bad era for the club where success was hard to come by.
As for Henrik he played in a successful Celtic side both domestically and in Europe, so Henrik for me is the best Celtic player in my lifetime. Others will have a different opinion, but it’s just a generational thing and no one is right or wrong.
It would be interesting to hear your own choice and the reasons why. Let us know in the comments below…
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
Fully appreciate where you are coming from , but for me , pound for pound , wee Jinky , Booy Murdoch , Jimmy Mc G , saw the first two regularly, but on a different note , best player seen ? Cruyff , magical
Got to be Bobby Murdoch for me, first game at Celtic Park 1958. Best player seen live ? Got to be George Best.
Best Celtic goalscorer,Henrik.Most talented midfielder,Maestro.Best Celtic player,Jinky RIP.
Henke’s ability to grab a game by the scruff of the neck elevated him above everyone I have seen play for Celtic in my time watching our club.
Compared to his teammates Hartson and Sutton, on the surface not that impressive looking figure of a man, his wiriness was deceptive. He had Kyogo’s movement and GG’s physical strength allied with the will of a (Lisbon) Lion.
Funnily enough the professional performance I remember him from most is the one I saw most recently, his cameo at the end of the Barca v Arsenal UCL final. It was a game edging towards pens, slightly leaning to an Arsenal victory… and then it happened.
Larsson entered the fray.
All the talk about pub leagues and our superstar came on and showed the more fancied players of those 2 mega monied clubs what we Celts, the Sweden fans and Zlatan Ibrahimović already what knew. The King of Kings showed them how winners perform under pressure.
Maybe a 2nd watch might change my emotional watching of this game (I almost never watch games that don’t feature Celtic but I couldn’t miss this one) but it felt like games when Celtic struggled to break through and our legend would look around and see the body language and say ‘Nah, not while I’m playing’ and he’d just do it himself to get the heads up.
Brilliant player.
Seen him in charity matches years after his retirement and thought ‘Any chance we can tempt him with a wee contract where he only plays in big games? Looks like he could still do a job’
Thank you Larson, you absolute legend. HH
Worth saying, I only clocked in at the Burns era of the three Amigos, so anyone before that doesn’t really come into my thinking. You see highlights packages online and anyone looks good. I think to really know how good a player is, you need to consume a lot of their playing time. No doubt teh Lions and McStay were great but I am going by rep and some seeing the Lisbon Final a few times not 60+ games a season for 7 (barring the leg break) seasons.
Danny Mc grain was the greatest defender I have ever seen and it always leaves me with the dilemma ” is he the greatest I’ve ever seen?
The answer to that dilemma is NO, because albeit I was still in my infancy as a Celtic supporter, and even this man was at the end of his career Bobby Lennox is the greatest Celtic player i have ever seen. No analysis,no break down his name speaks for it’s self.