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 Dr Henrik Edward Larsson
Date of birth September 20, 1971 (age 35)
Place of birth Helsingborg, Sweden
Height 5' 10"(178cm)
Nickname Henke
Position Striker
Club information
Current club Helsingborgs IF
Youth clubs
1977-1992
 Högaborgs BK
Professional clubs*
Years Club Apps (goals)
1992-1993
1993-1997
1997-2004
2004-2006
2006-
2007		 Helsingborgs IF
Feyenoord
Celtic F.C.
FC Barcelona
Helsingborgs IF
→ Manchester United (loan)		 56 (50)
101 (26)
221 (173)
33 (12)
14 (8)
0 (0)
National team**
1993-2006 Sweden 93 (36)

* Professional club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only.
** National team caps and goals correct
as of 1 October, 2006.

Henrik Larsson MBE [IPA: 'hɛnrɪk 'lɑːʂɔn] (born September 20, 1971 in Helsingborg, Skåne, Sweden) is a biracial Swedish football player.

Before making a name for himself on the international stage in the mid-1990s, a young Henrik Larsson was most famous for his high-flying long, golden brown dreadlocks which were tied back with his trademark white headband. After fully recovering from a career-threatening injury in 1999, Larsson returned to the game with his head completely shaven. He has not grown his hair back since.

Larsson is best known for his seven very successful years with Scottish club Celtic, He subsequently had a two year spell at Barcelona of Spain where he won the Champions League. Having left Barcelona in the summer of 2006, he is currently playing for his hometown club of Helsingborgs IF.

From 1993-2002 and 2004-2006 Larsson played international football for Sweden. He announced his international retirement after the 2006 World Cup.

On December 1, 2006, it was announced that Larsson would sign for Manchester United on loan from January 1 until March 12, 2007, coinciding with the Swedish football league's winter break. He will then return to Helsingborgs IF in time for the start of the Swedish league season in April.[1]

Contents

[edit] Biography

Larsson started his professional career playing for Högaborg at the age of 17. He subsequently moved to Helsingborgs IF, where he scored 50 goals in 56 appearances. It was this sensational form that attracted the interest of Dutch club Feyenoord, who signed him for £295,000 in 1993. This was despite the fact he was negotiating a contract with Grasshopper-Club Zürich at the time.

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 6-3 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 most prolific goal scorer, with 30 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. Celtic fans still hail him as a hero today, and he is considered the greatest ever foreign player in the history of the Scottish league by the fans of Celtic.

In his last appearance for Celtic, he scored twice to defeat Dunfermline Athletic and win the Scottish Cup. He gave a teary goodbye at his testimonial match against Sevilla.

At the end of the 2003-04 season Larsson signed a one year contract with Barcelona with an option for a second year.

Larsson's first season at Barcelona was plagued by injury, and he played only a nominal part in Barça's La Liga win. He did, however, score against Celtic in a 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...".[2] Despite having missed most of the 2004-05 season, Barcelona took the option to extend his contract. In 2005-06 Larsson scored 10 goals as Barcelona won La Liga for a second consecutive year.

In January 2006, Henrik announced that at the end of his contract, which ended in July, he would leave Barcelona and return to Sweden to end his career. He revealed that he had politely refused a verbal promise by club president Joan Laporta to extend his contract to the end of the next season. News of his departure provoked praise from his teamates, including Ronaldinho - "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."[3]

In his final game for Barcelona, he won his first UEFA Champions League medal. Larsson came on as a substitute and assisted both of Barcelona's goals in a 2-1 win over Arsenal. Thierry Henry paid tribute to Larsson's contribution to Barcelona's win after the game, saying "People always talk about Ronaldinho,eto'o guily 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..."[4] Indeed his ability to give Barcelona the cutting edge required to overcome Arsenal was noted by the international press: [5][6]

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

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."

After Sweden's elimination from the 2006 World Cup on June 24, 2006, Larsson joined up with his former club, Helsingborgs IF. He made his second debut for his hometown club against Hammarby in the Swedish Cup on July 6, 2006.

[edit] International career

Larsson's international record is impressive with 36 goals in 93 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 three World Cups (1994 at which Sweden came 3rd, 2002 and 2006), and two European Championships (2000 and 2004).

Image:Sweden.jpg
Henrik after scoring for Sweden in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Larsson originally chose to retire from International football in 2002. His decision was met with much dismay in his homeland and there was much clamouring for him to return to the team for their campaign at Euro 2004 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 tremendous diving header against Bulgaria was voted Best Goal of the 2004 European Championships.

Larsson also featured at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. He scored in the final minute of the match against England for Sweden to draw the match 2-2 in their final game in the group stages, thus becoming only the sixth player to score in World Cup finals which are 12 years apart. The goal also sealed Sweden's qualification for the second round of the tournament. But in Sweden's Round of 16 game against host Germany, he blasted a penalty over the bar which could have given his team a lifeline after trailing 2-0 for most of the match.

He retired from International football for the second time on July 17, 2006. "It is time to quit now. It feels right. I'm done with the national team," the 34-year-old Larsson told TV station Canal Plus.

[edit] Personal life

Henrik's father is from the Cape Verde Islands off the coast of West Africa. In 1996 he got married with his early young love Magdalena and has two children, Jordan (born 1997) and Janelle (born 2002).

[edit] Honours

Team

Individual

Preceded by:
Pär Zetterberg		 Guldbollen
1998		 Succeeded by:
Stefan Schwarz
Preceded by:
Craig Burley		 Scottish Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year
1999		 Succeeded by:
Barry Ferguson
Preceded by:
Jackie McNamara		 Scottish PFA Players' Player of the Year
1999		 Succeeded by:
Mark Viduka
Preceded by:
Barry Ferguson		 Scottish Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year
2001		 Succeeded by:
Paul Lambert
Preceded by:
Mark Viduka		 Scottish PFA Players' Player of the Year
2001		 Succeeded by:
Lorenzo Amoruso
Preceded by:
Olof Mellberg		 Guldbollen
2004		 Succeeded by:
Zlatan Ibrahimović

In November 2003, the Swedish Football Association bestowed upon him the accolade "greatest Swedish football player of the last 50 years." (to celebrate UEFA's Jubilee) In 2005 Larsson received an honorary degree from the University of Strathclyde, in recognition of his contribution to football and for his charity work. In May 2006 he was given the honor of OBE 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 Celtic.

[edit] References & notes

  1. ^ Man Utd capture Larsson on loan. BBC (1 December 2006). Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
  2. ^ Graham Clark, Larsson's return is unhappy for Celtic, Guardian Unlimited, September 15, 2004
  3. ^ David Mccarthy, RONNIE: BARCA PAL LARSSON IS MY IDOL, DailyRecord, April 26, 2006
  4. ^ Bailey, Graeme. Henry questions referee.
  5. ^ Jon Brodkin, Larsson takes his leave in the grandest style, Guardian Unlimited, May 18, 2006
  6. ^ Simon Baskett, Barca inherit 'dream team' mantle, Reuters, May 18, 2006

[edit] External links

Sweden Sweden squad - 1994 World Cup Third Place Sweden

1 Ravelli | 2 R. Nilsson | 3 P. Andersson | 4 Björklund | 5 Ljung | 6 Schwarz | 7 Larsson | 8 Ingesson | 9 Thern | 10 Dahlin | 11 Brolin | 12 Eriksson | 13 M. Nilsson | 14 Kåmark | 15 Lučić | 16 Limpar | 17 Rehn | 18 Mild | 19 K. Andersson | 20 Erlingmark | 21 Blomqvist | 22 Hedman | Coach: Svensson
Sweden Sweden squad - 2002 FIFA World Cup Sweden

1 Hedman | 2 Mellberg | 3 P. Andersson | 4 Mjällby | 5 Michael Svensson | 6 Linderoth | 7 Alexandersson | 8 A. Svensson | 9 Ljungberg | 10 Allbäck | 11 Larsson | 12 Kihlstedt | 13 Antonelius | 14 Edman | 15 Jakobsson | 16 Lučić | 17 Magnus Svensson | 18 Jonson | 19 Farnerud | 20 D. Andersson | 21 Ibrahimović | 22 A. Andersson | 23 Isaksson | Coach: Lagerbäck / Söderberg
Sweden Sweden squad - 2006 FIFA World Cup Sweden

1 Isaksson | 2 Nilsson | 3 Mellberg | 4 Lučić | 5 Edman | 6 Linderoth | 7 Alexandersson | 8 A. Svensson | 9 Ljungberg | 10 Ibrahimović | 11 Larsson | 12 Alvbåge | 13 Hansson | 14 Stenman | 15 K. Svensson | 16 Källström | 17 Elmander | 18 Jonson | 19 Andersson | 20 Allbäck | 21 Wilhelmsson | 22 Rosenberg | 23 Shaaban | Coach: Lagerbäck
Persondata
NAME Larsson, Henrik Edward
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Swedish footballer
DATE OF BIRTH 20 September 1971
PLACE OF BIRTH Helsingborg, Skåne, Sweden)
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../h/e/n/Henrik_Larsson_5e98.html"