Henrik Larsson. The name just brings about so many great memories from a great player. The only genuine “world class” player ever to have graced the Parkhead turf in the last twenty five years. The Swede won everything at Celtic. Only an elusive European Trophy escaped Larsson in a game that Henke himself described as the worst moment in his career, which also included his infamous leg break in 1999.
Celtic fans know how good Larsson was. For seven glorious seasons they got to watch this world class striker grace Parkhead’s turf . But when he left to join Barcelona did many think he would make it in a team adorned with stars like Ronaldinho, Eto’o, Puyol and Deco? The Celtic fans did and his team mates at the Nou Camp had great respect for the great Swede.
Ronaldinho
“When he came to Barcelona, Henrik said nice things about me but by the time he left he was my idol.
“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.”
Juliano Belleti
“Larsson was someone for whom I had a lot of respect. I remembered watching him play at the 1994 World Cup. I knew about all the titles he had won and the goals he had scored.
“At Barcelona, I saw that he was also an exemplary professional, and a guy of real humility. He had a brilliant attitude, both as a player and a person. He was a great influence in the squad.”
“I always say that I played with some of the best forwards in the history of football. Larsson was one of them.”
Xavi
“From the first day I saw him in training, the way he moved and the way he was in the box, I knew he was going to be a really good player for us,” he said.
“The impact he had on the team was so important. In the final of the Champions League he made the assists for the goals that helped us win the trophy.
“He was so important for us and he was loved by the supporters and his teammates.”
This season Larsson re-joined Barcelona as Assistant Manager to Ronald Keoman as he embarks on a journey to change the Catalan giants fortunes on the pitch again, but this time from the dugout. Will he one day return to his spiritual home? Time will tell.