Larsson better than McCoist? You’d better believe it, it’s not even a debate.
The three greatest Celtic strikers may well be Jimmy McGrory, Kenny Dalglish and Henrik. Who have they got across their clubs? Super Ally, KrisBoyd and maybe Kenny Miller! Levels…
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)
We’ve all heard the ridiculous ‘Is Kris Boyd better than Henrik Larsson’ debate. Well to be truthful it’s just more of a deranged opinion, but of course everyone is entitled to one no matter how stupid or outrageous it may be.
Just yesterday I noticed a new one on social media when an account going by the name of the Jimmy Bell Loyal claimed that Ally McCoist was a better player than Henrik Larsson! Yes he really did, and it wasn’t a parody account either.
COLOGNE, GERMANY – JUNE 20: Henrik Larsson of Sweden celebrates scoring his teams second goal during the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 Group B match between Sweden and England at the Stadium Cologne on June 20, 2006 in Cologne, Germany. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
The claim was made after Chris Sutton spoke of Henrik as being the best striker Scotland had ever seen. Yes that is a bold claim by Chris and whether you agree or disagree with it, as we’ve certainly had a lot of strikers in this country who are as good or if not better than Henrik but Ally McCoist certainly isn’t one of them.
21/05/03 UEFA CUP FINAL CELTIC v FC PORTO Henrik Larsson scores for Celtic
Henrik Larsson versus Jimmy McGrory would be an interesting debate and the late David Potter would have been the man to judge both Celtic legends and give his assessment on which one would be the greatest. Then there’s Kenny Dalglish, like the two mentioned above clearly a world class footballer. He was voted the best Liverpool player of all time and how many European Cups have they won?
Yes Ally was a good goalscorer for Rangers with an impressive goal record, but he was not in the same league as Henrik, McGory or Dalglish. Far from it, and if you think he was then more fool you. Not only was Henrik a better all round striker he also scored more career goals than McCoist and not just in Scotland. Henrik also scored in Sweden, Holland, Spain and England during his illustrious career.
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)
He scored more goals in European competition. He scored in European finals, He created goals in European finals. He scored more international goals, scoring in the World Cup finals and European championships.
He was a renowned world class striker, was McCoist ever considered in that bracket? No he wasn’t. Not that we need the stats to prove it, but it just further proves that Henrik was the far superior player.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
ON CELTIC SHORTS…Kieran Tierney – Enjoying his football in La Liga, loving life in San Sebastián
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