Larsson Henrik
Henrik Edward Larsson is a Swedish football former professional player. He was known as an excellent striker whose main attributes were his goal scoring prowess and on-field intelligence. Larsson began his career with Högaborg. He moved to Helsingborg, where he was one of the key players when they won promotion to the Allsvenskan in 1993. Larsson then moved to Feyenoord for four years before leaving in 1997. Next at Celtic he won four league titles in seven years. He was moved at the start of his second season there to be the focal striker rather than the supporting forward. This led to him scoring 242 goals in 315 competitive Celtic matches. Larsson joined Barcelona in 2004 where he won two league titles and the 2005–06 UEFA Champions League with a pivotal two assists in the final. Following the expiration of his contract at Barcelona, Larsson returned to his hometown club Helsingborg, then joined Manchester United on a brief loan between January and March 2007. He announced his retirement from football on 20 October 2009. Larsson played for Sweden in three FIFA World Cups and three UEFA European Championships and is a former captain of the national team. He ended his international career with 37 goals in 106 matches. Larsson has also played competitive floorball since 1989.
“People always talk about Ronaldinho, and everything but I didnt 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 Etoo and people like that, you need to talk about the proper footballer who made the difference and that was Henrik Larsson tonight” Thierry Henry
Did you Know?
Juventus-Celtic was the first game of the Champions League 2001-2002. It supposed to be played on September 12th 2001. Due the terroristic attack to the World Trade Center in New York on September 11th, the game was postponed one week later.
Juventus F.C. and Celtic F.C. match worn shirts and Champions League player’s pass dated September 11th 2001
Did you Know?
Larsson was born in Helsingborg, Scania. His father, Francisco Rocha, is from Cape Verde, and his mother, Eva Larsson, is Swedish. His parents, who never married and split up when he was 12, decided that he should take his mother’s surname because they felt it would make it easier for their son to be accepted in Sweden. He credits his father for his love of football. His father gave him a football when he was 16 months old and as a child, he was able to practice with brothers and friends on a large field near his home in Helsingborg. He has said of his school years, “I experienced some racism, because back then it was unusual to have a dark kid at school, I was one of the few.” He watched English football on television and his parents gave him a video of Pelé’s life story, both of which inspired him.