Henrik Larsson

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This article is about the Swedish footballer. For the Danish footballer, see Henrik Larsen
Henrik Larsson
Personal information
Full name Henrik Larsson
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Barcelona

Henrik Larsson MBE (born September 20, 1971 in Helsingborg, Skåne) is a Swedish international football player. Henrik's father is from the Cape Verde Islands off the coast of West Africa. He is married and has two children, Jordan (born 1997) and Janice (born 2002).

Having completed seven very successful years with Celtic in Glasgow, Scotland, after the end of the 2003/04 season he signed a one year contract with an option for a second year for Barcelona of Spain. Despite having missed the majority of season 2004/05 through injury, the option to play in season 2005/06 was extended and accepted. In the summer of 2006 he will return to his native Helsingborg to play for Helsingborgs IF. In his last match for Barcelona, he set up both of Barca's goals as they won the Champions League.

Biography

Larsson started his professional career playing for Högaborg at the age of 17. He subsequently played for Helsingborgs IF and Feyenoord. Although he was finalising the details of the contract with Grasshopper-Club Zürich in 1993 he moved to Feyenoord for £295,000. Following a complicated contract dispute with Feyenoord, he was signed by Celtic manager Wim Jansen in July 1997 for a fee of £650,000. His debut against Hibernian at Easter Road was less than spectacular: he inadvertently passed the ball to Hibs player, Chic Charnley, resulting in a 2 - 1 loss for Celtic. He didn't fare much better in his first European game, scoring an own goal, although Celtic did run out 6 - 2 winners.

Larsson scored 242 goals for Celtic, in 315 matches, making him Celtic's third all-time record goal scorer (in all competitions). This is more remarkable in the fact that he missed almost a year having suffered a horrific injury, breaking his leg in two places, whilst playing against Olympique Lyonnais in a UEFA cup match in France.

In 2001 he won the "Golden Boot" award for being Europe's top goal scorer, with 35 league goals. His total in all competitions that season was 53. In 2003, he scored two superb goals in the UEFA Cup Final, although opponents Porto went on to win 3-2. His goalscoring feats on the continent for Celtic mean he holds the record for number of goals scored for a club from British Isles in European matches.

In 2004, after having moved to Barcelona, he scored against Celtic in the Champions League match. After the game he said "It was very difficult for me to celebrate my goal because I had so many great times here...".[1] In 2004, The Swedish Football Association bestowed upon him the accolade "greatest Swedish football player of the last 50 years."

His decision to retire from international football met with much dismay in his homeland and there was much clamouring for him to return to the team for their campaign at Template:Ec2 in Portugal. Despite initially maintaining his decision to retire, turning down overtures from UEFA President Lennart Johansson and the Swedish Prime Minister in the process, he eventually returned to the national side at the behest of his son, and to great effect, scoring three goals in four matches and leading Sweden to the quarterfinals, where they were defeated in a penalty shootout by the Dutch.

Larsson's international record is impressive with 34 goals in 88 games, many of which he played in midfield or as a winger. He has always made his mark on big occasions and has scored at two World Cups (1994 at which Sweden came 3rd, and 2002), and two European Championships (2000 and 2004).

In 2005 Larsson returned briefly to Glasgow to receive an honorary degree from the University of Strathclyde, in recognition of his contribution to football and for his charity work.

In January of 2006, Henrik announced his decision to leave his current club F.C. Barcelona and return to Sweden at the end of his current contract in July 2006, revealing that he politely refused a verbal promise by club president Joan Laporta to extend his contract to the end of the next season. Larsson thinks that at 34 and having a very successful career behind him, it is time to retire from Barça and enjoy the last years of it in his homeland.

In April 2006 it was reported that team mate Ronaldinho said of Larsson- "With Henrik leaving us at the end of the season this club is losing a great scorer, no question. But I am also losing a great friend. Henrik was my idol and now that I am playing next to him it is fantastic. He is a real friend and that is a pleasure. I just want to enjoy the remaining time he has with us rather than dwell on what we will be missing when he's gone. I haven't tried to convince Henrik to stay at Barcelona. I respect him so much that I can't try to influence his decision. It's something he has thought about for a long time. I'm not happy he's leaving but I'm not going to pressure him at all. At Henrik's age many players announce their retirement from international football but no one I know his age is at the great physical level Henrik is at right now. He could play at the highest level for a long time."[2]

Barring any serious injury, Larsson is expected to feature at the 2006 World Cup in Germany where he will team up with Juventus star Zlatan Ibrahimovic in what is likely to be his last World Cup.

In May 2006 he was given the honor of Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by the British Consulate in Barcelona, in name of Queen Elizabeth II for his contributions to British football during the years he spent playing at Glasgow. In the same month, he won his first UEFA Champions League medal after coming on as a substitute and assisting both of Barcelona's goals in a 2-1 win over Arsenal FC. Thierry Henry paid tribute to Larsson's contribution to Barcelona's win after the game, saying "People always talk about Ronaldinho, and everything but I didn't see him today - I saw Henrik Larsson. Two times he came on - he changed the game, that is what killed the game - sometimes you talk about Ronaldinho and Eto'o and people like that, you need to talk about the proper footballer who made the difference and that was Henrik Larsson tonight..."[3] Indeed his ability to give Barcelona the cutting edge required to overcome Arsenal was noted by the international press:

The Guardian

Some doubt the Swede's standing because so many of his goals were scored for Celtic but by playing a role in Barcelona's title and European Cup successes this season, he has proved his worth even to the last remaining sceptics. Ten league goals have helped the club to a second straight domestic championship, particularly as he filled in for the injured Ludovic Giuly in a wide position that he had adapted to without fuss. He will get another chance to remind the public of his talent at the World Cup this summer, and England will know to be every bit as wary of him as the often more trumpeted Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has had a disappointing campaign at Juventus. If the goals no longer flow as freely for Larsson and the starts are fewer, the cleverness of mind, runs and touch have certainly not left him.

The New York Times

It was created with a flick of Henrik Larsson's right foot, a moment born of experience and craft. Larsson has said he is retiring from this level of soccer after this game. He had only just come on the field as a replacement but he knew exactly what he was doing. He has vision. He is 34 and he has been in the game for the whole of his adult life and what he could do once he could repeat another four minutes and Larsson again showed the ability to find the pass that destroys defenses. This time he spotted Juliano Belletti, another replacement, who with almost his first touch of the night powered the ball inside the near post of Arsenal's replacement goalkeeper, Manuel Almunia

Reuters

A resolute Arsenal defence then fought off waves of Barcelona attacks until the arrival of substitute Henrik Larsson. The Swede, playing his last match for Barca before ending his career at hometown club Helsingborg, set Eto'o up for the equaliser 14 minutes from time. Five minutes later, he lined up the winner for fullback and fellow substitute Juliano Belletti.

The Glasgow Herald

However, Larsson, a free transfer among an array of multi-million pound talent, was undoubtedly the difference between the sides. He set up the equalising goal with a delicate sidefooted pass to Samuel Eto'o, who took two touches before dinking the ball past Manuel Almunia.. Rijkaard hailed Larsson's role in the victory but said there was no chance of the Swede staying at Camp Nou for one more season. Larsson signed for Barcelona from Celtic in July, 2004. "He is a wonderful player, and a very important player for us," said Rijkaard later. "He is always ready and prepared to come on and really help the team when we need him. "We spoke to Henrik [about staying at Barcelona] but he has made his decision. He says now is the right time for him to go back home to Sweden." Larsson, as ever, displayed his usual humility afterwards and preferred to concentrate on the effort shown by his team-mates. "It was a tough match and the whole team deserve credit for the win," he said. "It was an unbelievable way for me to finish my career at Barcelona. I have had a fantastic experience here in my two years, with two league titles and now this. It's amazing."

Honours

Team

Individual

Preceded by Guldbollen
1998 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Scottish Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year
1999 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Scottish PFA Players' Player of the Year
1999 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Scottish Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year
2001 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Scottish PFA Players' Player of the Year
2001 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Guldbollen
2004 		Succeeded by

References

  1. ^ Graham Clark, Larsson's return is unhappy for Celtic, Guardian Unlimited, September 15, 2004
  2. ^ David Mccarthy, RONNIE: BARCA PAL LARSSON IS MY IDOL, DailyRecord, April 26, 2006
  3. ^ Bailey, Graeme. "Henry questions referee". {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)

External links

Template:Celtic F.C. greatest

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