Henrik Edward "
Henke"
Larsson MBEThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions...
' onMouseout='HidePop("53170")' href="http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Helsingborg">Helsingborg
Helsingborg Helsingborg Helsingborg ( is a locality and the seat of Helsingborg Municipality, Skåne County, Sweden with 91,457 inhabitants in 2005. The population of Helsingborg city is increasing by around 1,700 people every year....
,
ScaniaScania is a geographical region on the southernmost tip of the Scandinavian peninsula, an occupied province in the Kingdom of Sweden, before 1658 a province in the Kingdom of Denmark and part of the historical lands of Denmark.To the north, it borders the provinces Halland, Småland and Blekinge,...
,
SwedenSweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe...
) is a retired professional association football player. Larsson won four titles in seven years with
CelticThe Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. Since the club's formation in 1888, Celtic have won the Scottish championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the 2007/08 season, and the Scottish...
before moving to
BarcelonaFútbol Club Barcelona , also known simply as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça , is a football club based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The team was founded in 1899 by a group of Swiss, English and Spanish men led by Joan Gamper. The club has become a Catalan institution, hence the motto "Més que...
, where he won two titles and the
Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe...
. After his contract had expired at Barcelona, Larsson returned to his home town club of
HelsingborgHelsingborgs IF , most commonly referred to as HIF, or Helsingborg, is a Swedish football club located in Helsingborg. The club, formed 4 June 1907, has won six national championship titles and three national cup titles. They are currently playing in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan...
, and joined
Manchester UnitedManchester United Football Club is an English football club, one of the most popular football clubs in the world, based at Old Trafford in Greater Manchester. The club was a founding member of the Premier League in 1992, and has played in the top division of English football since 1938, with the...
on a brief loan spell between January and March 2007. He has announced his retirement from domestic football on the 20th October 2009.
Prior to his retirement from international football in 2006, Larsson had won 93 caps for Sweden, scoring 36 goals. On 13 May 2008, it was announced that Larsson would once again play for Sweden at the Euro 2008 championships in Austria and Switzerland. He was the captain of the
Swedish national teamThe Swedish national football team is the national football team of Sweden and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association.-History:...
.
Early career
Larsson started his professional career playing for
HögaborgHögaborgs BK is a Swedish football club from Helsingborg that was founded in 1927. They currently play in the Swedish third division . The club is most known for breeding young talented players...
at the age of 17. He subsequently moved to
HelsingborgHelsingborgs IF , most commonly referred to as HIF, or Helsingborg, is a Swedish football club located in Helsingborg. The club, formed 4 June 1907, has won six national championship titles and three national cup titles. They are currently playing in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan...
, where he scored 50 goals in 56 appearances. It was this sensational form that sparked the interest of
DutchThe Netherlands is a country in Northwestern Europe, constituting the major portion of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is a parliamentary democratic constitutional monarchy. The Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east...
club Feyenoord, who signed him for
£The pound sterling , often simply called the pound, is the currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and British Antarctic Territory...
295,000 in 1993. This was despite the fact he was negotiating a contract with
Grasshopper ZürichGrasshopper Club Zürich commonly referred to as simply GC, GCZ, or Grasshopper is a Swiss multisports club based in Zürich. The oldest and most well known section of Grasshopper Club Zürich is its football team...
of Switzerland at the time.
Celtic
Following a contract dispute with Feyenoord, he was signed by Celtic manager
Wim JansenWilhelmus Marinus Anthonius Jansen is a former Dutch association football player and manager.- Playing career :...
in July 1997 for a fee of £650,000. He won 4 SPL Titles, 2 Scottish League Cup and 3 Scottish Cups during his tenure. He was the top goalscorer in the
Scottish Premier LeagueThe Scottish Premier League is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top level of the Scottish football league system — above the Scottish Football League.Per capita, more people in Scotland watch their domestic top level league than any other nation in...
for five of the six seasons that he competed in. The only exception being the 1999–00 season, which Larsson missed most of due to the injury suffered in Lyon. Larsson was also a consistent goalscorer in international competition. He scored two goals in the
2003 UEFA Cup FinalThe 2003 UEFA Cup Final was played on 21 May 2003 between Celtic F.C. of Scotland and F.C. Porto of Portugal. Porto won the match 3–2 in extra time thanks to a goal from Derlei...
, although Portuguese opponents Porto went on to win 3–2. Larsson holds the record for most number of goals scored for a club from the
British IslesThe British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include Great Britain, Ireland and numerous smaller islands. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Ireland...
in
EuropeanThe Union of European Football Associations is the administrative and controlling body for European football. It is almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA ....
matches. Celtic fans selected Larsson (the only player from outside Scotland) in the greatest ever Celtic team, when a vote was held in 2002.
1997–98
His debut against
HibernianHibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their rivals Hearts, who Hibernian play in the Edinburgh derby...
at
Easter RoadEaster Road is the home ground of Scottish Premier League football club Hibernian. Located in the Leith area of Edinburgh, the stadium has a capacity of 17,500. This means that it is presently the seventh largest stadium in Scotland and the largest stadium used primarily for football in Edinburgh...
was inauspicious. Larsson, only just on as a late substitute, inadvertently passed the ball to Hibernian player
Chic CharnleyJames Callaghan Charnley, more commonly known as Chic Charnley, is a former Scottish footballer.-Club career:Charnley played for a number of clubs: Clydebank, Hamilton Accies, St...
who then went on to score, resulting in a 2–1 defeat for Celtic. He did not fare much better in his first European game, scoring an own-goal, although Celtic did go on to win 6–3 against
Tirol InnsbruckFC Tirol Innsbruck was an Austrian football club from Innsbruck, Tyrol which existed between 1993 and 2002, when bankruptcy was declared.It was - after the establishment of FC Swarovski Tirol in 1986 - the second split-off of FC Wacker Innsbruck, whose Bundesliga license it adopted at the end of...
. After his poor start to the season Larsson quickly endeared himself to the Celtic support. Initially Larsson played the role of support striker alongside
Darren JacksonDarren Jackson is a Scottish former international footballer who played predominantly as a striker.-Career:...
,
Simon DonnellySimon Thomas Donnelly is a Scottish professional footballer currently in a player-coach role at Partick Thistle.-Career:...
and later Harald Brattbakk. His work rate and unselfish play lead to many assists for his team mates. In November 1997 Larsson won his first medal for the club with a 3-0 win over
Dundee UnitedDundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, 2009 is Dundee United's centenary year. The club changed to the present name in 1923...
at
Ibrox StadiumIbrox Stadium, originally Ibrox Park, is a football stadium located on the south side of the River Clyde, on Edmiston Drive in the Ibrox district of Glasgow...
giving Celtic the
Scottish League CupThe Scottish Football League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Co-operative Insurance Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with Co-operative Insurance Society. In the past it has been...
. He scored the opener in the final day of the league season against St. Johnstone to clinch the championship for Celtic. It was the clubs first league championship win since the double winning season 1987-88 and stopped
Old FirmThe Scottish football teams Celtic and Rangers, both based in Glasgow, are collectively referred to as the Old Firm.The origin of the term is unclear. One theory has it that the expression derives from Celtic's first game in 1888, which was played against Rangers...
rivals
RangersRangers Football Club are an association football team based in Glasgow, Scotland, who currently play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
from breaking Celtic's record of nine titles in a row. Larsson finished the season as the clubs top goal scorer with 16 league goals and 18 goals in all competitions.
1998–99
Larsson's second season with the club saw a change in management with
Dr. Jozef VenglosDr. Jozef Vengloš is a former Slovakian football player and coach. He has a Doctorate in Physical Education, as well as specialising in Psychology...
taking the Parkhead hotset following
Wim Jansen'sWilhelmus Marinus Anthonius Jansen is a former Dutch association football player and manager.- Playing career :...
resignation. The 1998-99 season was to prove ultimately disappointing as Celtic finished runners up to rivals Rangers in both the newly established
SPLThe Scottish Premier League is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top level of the Scottish football league system — above the Scottish Football League.Per capita, more people in Scotland watch their domestic top level league than any other nation in...
and in the
Scottish CupThe Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the Scottish Cup, and as the Active Nation Scottish Cup for sponsorship reasons, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football...
. During this season Larsson also made the scoresheet for the first time in an
Old FirmThe Scottish football teams Celtic and Rangers, both based in Glasgow, are collectively referred to as the Old Firm.The origin of the term is unclear. One theory has it that the expression derives from Celtic's first game in 1888, which was played against Rangers...
match chalking up a brace in a 5-1 victory in November and scoring the equaliser in the 2-2 Ne'erday match at
Ibrox StadiumIbrox Stadium, originally Ibrox Park, is a football stadium located on the south side of the River Clyde, on Edmiston Drive in the Ibrox district of Glasgow...
. Throughout the season Larsson forged a mutually prolific partnership with diminutive
SlovakThe Slovak Republic is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe with a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia borders the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south. The largest city is its capital, Bratislava...
playmaker Lubo Moravcik. The season however did mark the player's coming of age as a goal scorer. Playing in a more advanced striker's role Larsson notched up 38 goals ending the season as both Celtic and Scotland's top goal scorer. He was also awarded the honours of SPFA Players' Player of the Year,
SFWA Footballer of the YearThe Scottish Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year is an annual award given to the player who is adjudged to have been the best of the season in Scottish football...
and
Swedish Footballer of the YearGuldbollen, , award given by the daily tabloid Aftonbladet and the Swedish Football Association to the best male Swedish footballer each year. The female equivalent is Diamantbollen.- Winners :...
.
1999–2000
The 1999-2000 season saw yet another change in management for Celtic. Former
LiverpoolLiverpool Football Club is a professional football club based in Liverpool, England. The club plays in the Premier League, and has won more trophies than any other English club...
and
EnglandThe English national football team represents England in international association football and is controlled by The Football Association, the governing body for football in England...
winger,
John BarnesJohn Charles Bryan Barnes MBE is a Jamaican-born English football manager and former professional player. His most recent managerial post was at English League One club, Tranmere Rovers...
replaced the outgoing
VenglosDr. Jozef Vengloš is a former Slovakian football player and coach. He has a Doctorate in Physical Education, as well as specialising in Psychology...
to become player-manager at the club. The season started very brightly for Larsson as he notched up 8 league goals in only 9 games for the club. During Celtic's 1–0 defeat in a UEFA Cup tie against
LyonOlympique Lyonnais is a French football club based in Lyon. They play in France's highest football division, Ligue 1....
, Larsson suffered a career-threatening injury, breaking his leg in two places. This resulted in him spending eight months on the sidelines, only returning on the last day of the 1999–2000 season. John Barnes cited Larsson's injury as being a "big factor" in why he was sacked by Celtic after only months in the position. By the time Larsson had completed his rehabilitation John Barnes had been sacked and replaced by
Director of Football"Director of Football" is a term describing a senior management figure at a football club, most commonly used in Europe. In the rugby codes, the term "Director of Rugby" is used instead. The exact nature of the role is often unclear and extremely variable and causes much debate in the sports media...
and Celtic legend
Kenny DalglishKenneth Mathieson "Kenny" Dalglish MBE is a former Scottish international footballer. He is most noted for his successes with Celtic, and both his playing and managing career at English club Liverpool...
as interim manager. Larsson made his comeback with a substitute appearance against
Dundee UnitedDundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, 2009 is Dundee United's centenary year. The club changed to the present name in 1923...
at
Celtic ParkCeltic Park is a football stadium in the Parkhead area of Glasgow in Scotland. It is the home ground of Celtic Football Club. The all-seater stadium is also known as Parkhead and occasionally nicknamed Paradise by Celtic fans....
on the final day of the
SPLThe Scottish Premier League is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top level of the Scottish football league system — above the Scottish Football League.Per capita, more people in Scotland watch their domestic top level league than any other nation in...
season.
2000–01
Following the arrival
Martin O'NeillMartin Hugh Michael O'Neill, OBE, is an Irish former association footballer who captained the Northern Ireland national football team, also known for playing for Nottingham Forest and who has previously managed Wycombe Wanderers, Norwich City, Leicester City and Celtic and is currently manager of...
in the summer of 2000, Larsson went on to have what would become his most successful season for Celtic. As Larsson forged a prolific partnership with new arrival
Chris SuttonChristopher Roy "Chris" Sutton is an English football manager and former player.In his career, Sutton played for Norwich City, Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea, Celtic, Birmingham City and Aston Villa. Sutton scored over 150 career goals in over 400 league appearances spanning 16 years in the English...
he scored an incredible 35 league goals in 38 league games to become SPL Top Goalscorer and to win the
European Golden BootThe European Golden Shoe, formerly known as the European Golden Boot, is an association football award presented each season to the leading goalscorer in league matches from the top division of every European national league...
. The season saw Celtic lift the domestic treble of the
Scottish League CupThe Scottish Football League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Co-operative Insurance Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with Co-operative Insurance Society. In the past it has been...
,
Scottish CupThe Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the Scottish Cup, and as the Active Nation Scottish Cup for sponsorship reasons, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football...
and the
Scottish Premier LeagueThe Scottish Premier League is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top level of the Scottish football league system — above the Scottish Football League.Per capita, more people in Scotland watch their domestic top level league than any other nation in...
. Larsson scored an incredible hat-trick in a 3-0 win over
KilmarnockKilmarnock Football Club are a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" are the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park. They are currently members of the Scottish Premier League and are managed...
at
Hampden ParkHampden Park in Glasgow is Scotland's national stadium. Its primary use is as the home to Queen's Park F.C. and the Scotland national football team. It is also used for music concerts and other sporting events....
to win the
Scottish League CupThe Scottish Football League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Co-operative Insurance Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with Co-operative Insurance Society. In the past it has been...
as well as a brace in the
Scottish CupThe Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the Scottish Cup, and as the Active Nation Scottish Cup for sponsorship reasons, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football...
in a 3-0 win over
HibernianHibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their rivals Hearts, who Hibernian play in the Edinburgh derby...
. Other personal highlights for Larsson included scoring his 50th goal of the season against Rangers at Ibrox in a 3-0 victory and finishing the season with a total of 53 goals in all competitions. He was again voted SPFA Players' Player of the Year as well as
SFWA Footballer of the YearThe Scottish Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year is an annual award given to the player who is adjudged to have been the best of the season in Scottish football...
. Larsson's form over the season was such that experienced opposition coach
Dick AdvocaatDirk Nicolaas "Dick" Advocaat is a Dutch football former player and current coach of the Belgian national football team....
was moved to observe, "Larsson is one of the best strikers in Europe, maybe the world. If you watch Batistuta, he is sometimes not seen for 90 minutes but he scores two goals. Larsson has even more, because, besides being a good player and goalscorer, he has a tremendous workrate."
2001–02
Larsson's fifth season at the club yielded a second consecutive
SPLThe Scottish Premier League is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top level of the Scottish football league system — above the Scottish Football League.Per capita, more people in Scotland watch their domestic top level league than any other nation in...
title for the club. It also marked the club's first foray into the
UEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe...
group stage. Larsson scored his first Champions League goal with a penalty in Celtic's opening fixture in a controversial 3-2 defeat to
JuventusJuventus Football Club , commonly referred to as Juventus and familiarly as Juve, is an Italian professional football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
in
TurinTurin is a major city as well as a business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River surrounded by the Alpine arch...
. He scored again for Celtic in the Champions league campaign with the solitary goal in a 1-0 victory over Porto and again from the penalty spot against Juventus in a thrilling 4-3 victory at
Celtic ParkCeltic Park is a football stadium in the Parkhead area of Glasgow in Scotland. It is the home ground of Celtic Football Club. The all-seater stadium is also known as Parkhead and occasionally nicknamed Paradise by Celtic fans....
. Despite achieving a Scottish record of 9 points in the group stage Celtic failed to qualify for the latter stages and parachuted into the
UEFA CupThe UEFA Europa League is a competition for eligible European football clubs; the second most prestigious European football contest after the UEFA Champions League. It is an annual football cup competition for European club teams organised by the Union of European Football Associations...
. The club were drawn against
ValenciaValencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish professional football club based in Valencia. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish football...
with Larsson scoring the 2nd leg goal to take the tie into penalties which Celtic eventually lost. Larsson once again ended the season as SPL Top Goalscorer with 29 goals from 33 league appearances.
2002–03
The 2002-03 season proved to be one of the most memorable in Celtic's history as the club reached the UEFA Cup Final. After losing out on a place in the
UEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe...
following a shock away goals defeat to
BaselFussball Club Basel 1893, widely known as FC Basel is a Swiss football club based in Basel.Basel is one of the most successful clubs in Swiss football, having won the Swiss Super League 12 times, the third most for any Swiss club. They were most successful in the late 1960s and 1970s, winning the...
Celtic parachuted into the UEFA Cup. The first round saw the paired with Lithuanian side
SuduvaFK Sūduva is a football club from the city of Marijampolė, Lithuania.At the UEFA Cup 2002-03 tournament Sūduva twice defeated S.K. Brann of Norway 6-4 on aggregate. During the home game 21-year old Tomas Radzinevičius scored a hat-trick. Their next opponent, Glasgow Celtic, of Scotland proved to...
with Larsson scoring a hat-trick in the 8-1 1st leg victory as they progressed 10-1 on aggregate after adding a 2-0 away win. The 2nd round saw former Ranger's player-manager
Graeme Souness'Graeme James Souness is a Scottish former professional football player and manager. He is perhaps best known as the former captain of the successful Liverpool team of the early 1980s, and as a manager notably with Rangers, Liverpool, Benfica, Galatasaray, Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle...
Blackburn Rovers side visit
Celtic ParkCeltic Park is a football stadium in the Parkhead area of Glasgow in Scotland. It is the home ground of Celtic Football Club. The all-seater stadium is also known as Parkhead and occasionally nicknamed Paradise by Celtic fans....
in a matched dubbed
The Battle of Britain. After a tough fought game Celtic came went into the 2nd leg at
Ewood ParkEwood Park is a football stadium in Blackburn, Lancashire and is the home of Blackburn Rovers Football Club — one of the founder members of the Football League and Premier League. Rovers have played there since they moved from Leamington Road in the summer of 1890. The stadium opened in 1882...
1-0 courtesy of a late Larsson goal. After comments from the Blackburn players in the media who felt their team deserved the win claiming that the tie was "like men against boys", Larsson answered the critics with the opening strike in a 2-0 away win. The following rounds saw Celtic see off Celta Vigo 2-2 on away goals and
VfB StuttgartVerein für Bewegungsspiele Stuttgart 1893 e. V., commonly known as VfB Stuttgart, is a German sports club based in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg. The club is best known for its football team, which has participated in all but two Bundesliga seasons...
5-4 on aggregate. Larsson was to miss both ties with
VfB StuttgartVerein für Bewegungsspiele Stuttgart 1893 e. V., commonly known as VfB Stuttgart, is a German sports club based in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg. The club is best known for its football team, which has participated in all but two Bundesliga seasons...
following a broken jaw in an SPL match against
LivingstonLivingston Football Club is a Scottish association football club based in Livingston, West Lothian. The club currently plays in the Scottish Football League Third Division.The club was founded in 1943 as Ferranti Thistle, a works team...
. Larsson returned from injury in time for Celtic's
Battle of Britain II Quarter Final clash with 2001 winners
LiverpoolLiverpool Football Club is a professional football club based in Liverpool, England. The club plays in the Premier League, and has won more trophies than any other English club...
. Despite Celtic's chances of progression being written off by press on both sides of the Anglo-Scottish Border Celtic defeated Liverpool 3-1 on aggregate with Larsson scoring the opener in a 1-1 1st leg draw followed by a 2-0 Celtic victory at Anfield Stadium. Celtic met unfashionable Portuguese side
BoavistaBoavista Futebol Clube, often simply known as Boavista , is a sports club from Porto, Portugal that was founded in 1903. Boavista grew to become Porto's fifth greatest club with sections dedicated to several sports, such as football, chess, gymnastics, bicycle racing and futsal , the most notable...
in the semi-final. After a cautious game at Celtic Park, Boavista took the advantage on away goals into the 2nd leg after a 1-1 draw in which Larsson scored the equaliser after missing a penalty. The 2nd leg saw Boavista attempt to play out their advantage but Larsson struck for Celtic after a one-two with
John HartsonJohn Hartson is a Welsh former professional footballer who played as a striker, best known for his spells with Arsenal and Celtic. Hartson also featured prominently for Wales, earning 51 caps until his international retirement in 2006...
with only ten minute remaining. The goal sent Celtic through to their first European Final since 1970. The final in Seville against
José MourinhoJosé Mário dos Santos Félix Mourinho,
GOIH is a Portuguese football manager. He is the current manager of Italian Serie A team Internazionale, to whom he is contracted for the following three seasons....
's Porto saw Celtic finish as credible runners-up after a hard fought 3-2 defeat after extra time. The match saw Larsson pick up the man of the match award after equalising twice for Celtic with two sublime headers. Larsson also finished runner-up to FC Porto's
Hélder PostigaHélder Manuel Marques Postiga is a Portuguese footballer who currently plays for Sporting Clube de Portugal and the Portuguese national team, as a striker.-Club career:...
in the competition's Top Scorer Charts. Larsson described the pain of the defeat as being the worst moment of his career, including his leg break. More disappointment was to follow as Celtic finished up runners up to Rangers on the last day of the SPL season. 2003 also saw Larsson voted as the
Greatest Swedish Footballer of the Last 50 YearsTo celebrate the Union of European Football Associations 's 50th anniversary in 2004, each of its member associations was asked by UEFA to choose one of its own players as the single most outstanding player of the past 50 years . The 52 players were known as the Golden Players...
as part of the
UEFA Jubilee AwardsTo celebrate the Union of European Football Associations 's 50th anniversary in 2004, each of its member associations was asked by UEFA to choose one of its own players as the single most outstanding player of the past 50 years . The 52 players were known as the Golden Players...
. He also finished the season yet again the Top SPL Goalscorer with 28 goals from 35 games.
2003–04
Larsson's seventh and final season for Celtic saw the club lift the
SPL TitleThe Scottish Premier League is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top level of the Scottish football league system — above the Scottish Football League.Per capita, more people in Scotland watch their domestic top level league than any other nation in...
and the
Scottish CupThe Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the Scottish Cup, and as the Active Nation Scottish Cup for sponsorship reasons, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football...
. After parachuting from the
UEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe...
, Celtic also managed to reach the
UEFA CupThe UEFA Europa League is a competition for eligible European football clubs; the second most prestigious European football contest after the UEFA Champions League. It is an annual football cup competition for European club teams organised by the Union of European Football Associations...
Quarter Finals eliminating
BarcelonaFútbol Club Barcelona , also known simply as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça , is a football club based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The team was founded in 1899 by a group of Swiss, English and Spanish men led by Joan Gamper. The club has become a Catalan institution, hence the motto "Més que...
on the way before crashing out 3-1 on aggregate to
VillarrealVillarreal Club de Fútbol, S.A.D., usually abbreviated to Villarreal CF or just Villarreal, is a Spanish Primera División football club based in Villarreal, a small town in the province of Castellón...
. Larsson scored his only
UEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe...
goal of the season against Anderlecht in a 3-1 win at
Celtic ParkCeltic Park is a football stadium in the Parkhead area of Glasgow in Scotland. It is the home ground of Celtic Football Club. The all-seater stadium is also known as Parkhead and occasionally nicknamed Paradise by Celtic fans....
. He added to his European goal tally with the equaliser in a 1st Leg Quarter Final tie at Celtic Park versus Villarreal. After previously having a credible goal chalked off for handball the match ended 1-1. This was to prove Larsson's final European goal for Celtic. Celtic executed their revenge for the previous season's heartache on rivals Rangers by defeating the club in all five
Old FirmThe Scottish football teams Celtic and Rangers, both based in Glasgow, are collectively referred to as the Old Firm.The origin of the term is unclear. One theory has it that the expression derives from Celtic's first game in 1888, which was played against Rangers...
fixtures that season. Larsson's final Old Firm goal came in a 2-1 SPL win at Ibrox, an opening goal which was a header from a cross. Larsson's final competitive game at home for Celtic came in a league match against Dundee United. In an emotional match, Larsson scored both goals as Celtic went on to win 2-1. In his last competitive appearance for Celtic, he scored two goals (with either foot) to defeat and win the
2004 Scottish Cup FinalThe 2004 Scottish Cup Final was played on 22 May 2004 at Hampden Park in Glasgow and was the final of the 118th Scottish Cup. The final was contested by Dunfermline Athletic and Celtic. Celtic came from behind to win the match 3–1.-Match details:...
. He gave a teary goodbye at his
testimonial matchA testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, notably football and especially in the United Kingdom, where a club puts on a match in honour of a player for service to the club....
against
SevillaSevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club that plays in the top-flight Spanish La Liga championship. The club was established on October 14 1905, making it the oldest football club from Seville, and the second oldest from Andalusia.- The early years :On 15 October 1905,...
in front of a capacity crowd at Celtic Park, Glasgow. In all, Larsson scored 242 goals for Celtic in 315 matches and left the club as the
SPL'sThe Scottish Premier League is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top level of the Scottish football league system — above the Scottish Football League.Per capita, more people in Scotland watch their domestic top level league than any other nation in...
All-Time Leading Goalscorer with 158 goals. He was also voted
Swedish Footballer of the YearGuldbollen, , award given by the daily tabloid Aftonbladet and the Swedish Football Association to the best male Swedish footballer each year. The female equivalent is Diamantbollen.- Winners :...
for the second time for the 2003-04 season.
Testimonials
Since leaving Celtic Park in June 2004, Larsson has returned to play for Celtic in testimonial matches twice. First in May 2005, for
Jackie McNamara'sJackie McNamara is a Scottish professional footballer, who currently plays for Falkirk in the Scottish Premier League. He is a former Scottish international...
testimonial against
IrelandThe Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in Association Football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Croke Park in Dublin....
, which was also incidentally
Martin O'NeillMartin Hugh Michael O'Neill, OBE, is an Irish former association footballer who captained the Northern Ireland national football team, also known for playing for Nottingham Forest and who has previously managed Wycombe Wanderers, Norwich City, Leicester City and Celtic and is currently manager of...
's final match in charge. His second guest appearance was in May 2008 for the
Phil O'DonnellPhillip "Phil" O'Donnell was a Scottish football player who played for Motherwell, Celtic and Sheffield Wednesday over the course of his career...
Memorial Match. Larsson played as part of the Celtic 1998 championship-winning side against the
MotherwellMotherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell. The club competes in the Scottish Premier League and is one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
1991 Scottish Cup winning side. The match was played in memory of Larsson's former team mate Phil O'Donnell, who died earlier in the season in a match for Motherwell against Dundee United. Larsson, who scored in the 5-1 victory for Celtic, left Sweden's national training camp early to take part in the game. Larsson returned yet again to compete in Celtic's end of season charity match in memory of the late
Tommy BurnsThomas Burns may refer to:*Tom Burns *Tommy Burns *Tommy Burns , footballer and coach who was strongly connected with Celtic Football Club*Thomas Burns , Nationalist Northern Irish politician...
. The match saw the contemporary Celtic side play against a Tommy Burns Celtic XI, with Larsson appearing for the former.
Barcelona
At the end of the 2003–04 season Larsson left Celtic on a free transfer and signed a one year contract with
BarcelonaFútbol Club Barcelona , also known simply as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça , is a football club based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The team was founded in 1899 by a group of Swiss, English and Spanish men led by Joan Gamper. The club has become a Catalan institution, hence the motto "Més que...
with an option for a second year.
Larsson's played only a nominal part in Barça's
La LigaThe Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, in terms of sponsorship, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional football league in Spain...
win in his first season at Barcelona. He scored three goals in 12 Liga games and one goal (against his former club Celtic) in four
UEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe...
matches. After the game he said "It was very difficult for me to celebrate my goal because I had so many great times here."
On 20 November 2004, during the 3–0 victory in the derby versus
Real MadridReal Madrid Club de Fútbol is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. It is the most successful team in Spanish football and was voted by FIFA as the most successful club of the 20th century, having won a record thirty-one La Liga titles, seventeen Spanish Cups, a record nine European...
, Larsson tore the
anterior cruciate ligamentThe anterior cruciate ligament is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament....
and
meniscusIn anatomy, a meniscus is a crescent-shaped fibrocartilaginous structure that, in contrast to articular disks, only partly divides a joint cavity. In humans it is present in the knee, acromioclavicular, sternoclavicular, and temporomandibular joints; in other organisms they may be present in other...
in his left knee. 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, Larsson 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 LaportaJoan Laporta i Estruch has been the president of Futbol Club Barcelona since 2003.Laporta is a lawyer with his own firm, Laporta & Arbós, which has important firms as clients...
to extend his contract to the end of the next season. News of his departure provoked praise from his teammates, including
RonaldinhoRonaldo de Assis Moreira , commonly known as Ronaldinho or Ronaldinho Gaúcho, is a Brazilian footballer who plays forItalian Serie A side Milan and the Brazilian national team...
, who said, "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."
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
ArsenalArsenal Football Club are an English professional football club based in Holloway, North London...
.
Thierry HenryThierry Daniel Henry is a French footballer who plays for Spanish La Liga club Barcelona and the French national team predominantly as a striker....
paid tribute to Larsson's contribution to Barcelona's win after the game, saying, "People always talk about
RonaldinhoRonaldo de Assis Moreira , commonly known as Ronaldinho or Ronaldinho Gaúcho, is a Brazilian footballer who plays forItalian Serie A side Milan and the Brazilian national team...
,
Eto'oSamuel Eto'o Fils is a Cameroonian footballer who plays as a striker for Italian Serie A club Internazionale and is currently serving as captain of the Cameroon national team....
,
GiulyLudovic Giuly is a French footballer who plays as a winger for Paris Saint Germain.-Early career:After starting his career with Olympique Lyonnais in 1994, Giuly was signed by Monaco in January 1998....
and everything, but I didn't see them today, I saw Henrik Larsson. 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."
Indeed his ability to give Barcelona the cutting edge required to overcome Arsenal was noted by the international press.
Helsingborg
After Sweden's elimination from the
2006 World CupThe 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th instance of the FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000...
on 24 June 2006, Larsson joined up with his former club,
HelsingborgHelsingborgs IF , most commonly referred to as HIF, or Helsingborg, is a Swedish football club located in Helsingborg. The club, formed 4 June 1907, has won six national championship titles and three national cup titles. They are currently playing in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan...
. He made his second debut for his home town club against
HammarbyHammarby Fotboll is a Swedish football club based in Södermalm, the southernmost borough of Stockholm city centre. In Sweden, the club is often referred to by its nickname Bajen ....
in the
Swedish CupSvenska Cupen is the main Swedish football Cup. The winners qualify for the UEFA Cup.Each year , 98 teams compete, comprising the 14 teams from Allsvenskan and the 16 teams of Superettan together with 68...
on 6 July 2006. Helsingborg went on to win the competition earning Larsson another medal, and he helped his team to a fourth place finish in the
Swedish LeagueAllsvenskan is the highest league in the league system of Swedish football. The league was created in 1924. Before that, the top league in Sweden had been called Svenska Serien. Since 2008 season 16 teams have taken part instead of 14 previously.- Status :The champions of the Allsvenskan are...
. This successful season earnt Helsingborg a slot in the following season's UEFA Cup.
Loan to Manchester United
Shortly after rejoining Helsingborg, Larsson was signed on loan by
Manchester UnitedManchester United Football Club is an English football club, one of the most popular football clubs in the world, based at Old Trafford in Greater Manchester. The club was a founding member of the Premier League in 1992, and has played in the top division of English football since 1938, with the...
. United announced that Larsson would be on loan from 1 January until 12 March 2007, coinciding with the Swedish league's off season. He scored on his debut against
Aston VillaAston Villa Football Club is an English professional football club based in Aston, Birmingham, who play in the Premier League. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of Football League in 1888...
in the
FA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association. The name "FA Cup" usually refers to the English men's tournament, although a women's tournament is also held...
Third Round on 7 January 2007 at
Old TraffordOld Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
. Larsson scored his first ever Premier League goal on 31 January in a 4–0 win over
WatfordWatford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. They play in the Championship. The club was founded in 1881, first playing at Cassio Road ground, before moving to Vicarage Road in 1922, where they remain to this day. Since 1997, they have shared the...
. Larsson then scored on his last appearance at Old Trafford in a Manchester United shirt in a 1–0
UEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe...
win over
LilleLille Olympique Sporting Club is a French football club. Based in the northern city of Lille founded in 1944 from the merger of the Olympique Lillois and the SC Fives .-Formation:...
on 7 March 2007 to give United a 2-0 win on aggregate.
Whilst United were eager to extend the loan deal, Larsson stated that he had made a promise to his family and his club to return on 12 March. This was confirmed on 20 February, when Larsson announced that he would not be extending his loan period. Despite this, Sir Alex Ferguson was full of praise for the striker, who scored three goals in 13 matches in all competitions during his three-month stay, saying, "He's been fantastic for us, we tried everything we could to get him to stay longer, but he made a promise and you have to respect that." Larsson made his final appearance for United on 10 March in a sixth round
FA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association. The name "FA Cup" usually refers to the English men's tournament, although a women's tournament is also held...
tie away to
MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough Football Club , also known as The Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who will play in the Football League Championship for the 2009–10 season, following relegation from the Premier League. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August...
, ending in a 2–2 draw.
Manchester United won the Premier League two months after Larsson had left the club, and although he had not played the required quota of 10 league games to qualify for a Premier League winners medal, he, alongside Alan Smith, was granted special dispensation by the Premier League after the club requested extra medals for the two.
Return to Helsingborg
After leaving Manchester United, Larsson reseumed his career with Helsingborg. Larsson helped the club through the group stages of the UEFA Cup and they qualified for the Round of 32 losing to
PSV EindhovenPhilips Sport Vereniging , widely known either as PSV or PSV Eindhoven, is a Dutch sports club from Eindhoven, Netherlands. It is best known for its professional football department....
.
He broke his knee-cap during the first leg of a UEFA Europa League match against
FK SarajevoFK Sarajevo is a professional football club based in Sarajevo, the capital city of Bosnia-Herzegovina and is one of the most popular clubs in the country...
on 30 July 2009 and was out for an estimated 8 weeks.
Some reports at the time suggested that this in fact was the end of his playing career. With this injury coming on top of the recent and untimely passing of his younger brother, Robert, it may have appeared to some that Henrik's resilience had finally run-out. However, as a mark of the man and his true grit, he fought back from injury and heartache. Upon his return to the first team on 24 September 2009, Larsson scored two goals, including the winner against league rivals AIK. The game finished up 3-2 to Helsingborg, and Henrik's unbroken spirit lives on.
Retirement
On 20th October 2009 Larsson announced his retirement from playing at the end of the Swedish domestic season. The announcement followed a previous statement from the player declaring his intention to retire from international duty. Larsson had also stated his desire to move into coaching and expressed his intent to study for coaching badges in
ScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
under the
SFAThe Scottish Football Association is the governing body of football in Scotland and has the ultimate responsibility for the control and development of football in Scotland. Members of the SFA include clubs in Scotland, affiliated national associations as well as local associations...
system. The announced quickly sparked rumours of a return to Celtic as manager, even going so far as to suggest a link up with former Celtic team mate
Lubomir MoravcikĽubomír "Lubo" Moravčík is a former footballer from Slovakia, who played internationally for Czechoslovakia and Slovakia...
as his assistant.
International career
Larsson's international record is impressive with 37 goals in 104 games, many of which he played in midfield or as a winger. He scored his first international goal in his debut, during the World Cup Qualifications stage against Finland. His first World Cup goal came at the USA 1994 against Bulgaria in the third place match to help Sweden win the bronze.
Sweden did not qualify to the 1998 World Cup, but reappeared on the global stage four years later at the 2002 World Cup. Larsson helped guide Sweden out of the group of death and into the knockout round with a 2-1 win over Nigeria in which he scored both goals. He then scored in the round of sixteen match against Senegal, though Sweden ended up losing 1-2 in extra time to a golden goal and were eliminated.
Larsson originally chose to retire from International football after that World Cup. His decision was met with much dismay in his homeland and there was much clamoring for him to return to the team for their campaign at
Euro 2004The 2004 UEFA European Football Championship was the twelfth tournament of the UEFA European Football Championship, a quadrennial football tournament for European nations, and was held in Portugal, for the first time, between 12 June and 4 July 2004...
in
PortugalPortugal , officially the Portuguese Republic , is a country located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of mainland Europe and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south and by Spain to the north and east...
). Despite initially maintaining his decision to retire, 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 quarter-finals, where they were defeated in a
penalty shootoutPenalty shootouts, properly named kicks from the penalty mark, are a method sometimes used to decide which team progresses to the next stage of a tournament following a draw in a game of association football...
by the
DutchThe Netherlands national football team is the national football team of the Netherlands and is controlled by the Royal Netherlands Football Association. It won Euro 88 and reached two consecutive World Cup finals in 1974 and 1978 but lost both finals to their respective host nations, West Germany...
. Larsson's tremendous diving header against Bulgaria was voted Best Goal of the 2004 European Championships.
Larsson also featured at the
2006 World CupThe 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th instance of the FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000...
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 three World Cup finals. The goal also sealed Sweden's qualification for the second round of the tournament. However in Sweden's Round of 16 game against host Germany, he blasted a penalty over the bar and Sweden went out with the score at 2-0 to Germany.
He retired from international football for the second time on 17 July 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. However Sweden boss
Lars LagerbäckLars Lagerback is a former Swedish football manager and former player, he was last the manager of the Sweden national team.-Managerial career:...
managed to lure Larsson out of international retirement once more and on 13 May 2008, the Swedish FA officially declared that Larsson had agreed to make a comeback and play for Sweden once again in Euro 2008.
After former team captain
Fredrik LjungbergKarl Fredrik "Freddie" Ljungberg is a Swedish professional footballer with Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer....
decided to quit the
national teamThe Swedish national football team is the national football team of Sweden and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association.-History:...
, Larsson was chosen to become the new captain in a friendly against
FranceThe France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation and competes as a member of UEFA....
on 20 August 2008.
On 11 October 2009 Larsson once again decided to quit the national team.
International goals
| Goal | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|
| 1. |
13 October 1993 |
SWE Råsunda, Stockholm' is the capital and largest city of Sweden. It is the site of the national Swedish government, the Riksdag , and the official residence of the Swedish Monarch as well as the prime minister. The Monarch resides at Drottningholm Palace outside of Stockholm since 1980 and uses the Royal Palace of...
|
| 2-1 |
3-2 |
1994 FIFA World Cup qualification Listed below are the dates and results for the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for the European zone . For an overview of the qualification rounds, see the article 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification....
|
| 2. |
20 February 1994 |
USA Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami |
| 1-1 |
1-3 |
Joe Robbie CupThe Joe Robbie Cup was a United States Soccer Federation sponsored invitational tournament held in Miami, Florida in February 1994. All four nations used the tournament as preparation for the 1994 FIFA World Cup to be held later that year in the United States....
|
| 3. |
20 April 1994 |
WAL Racecourse GroundThe Racecourse Ground is a stadium located in Wrexham, North Wales. It is recognised as the World's oldest international football stadium by Guinness World Records...
, WrexhamWrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located to the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
|
| 0-1 |
0-2 |
Friendly |
| 4. |
5 May 1994 |
SWE Råsunda, Stockholm |
| 2-0 |
3-1 |
Friendly |
| 5. |
16 July 1994 |
USA Rose Bowl The Rose Bowl Game is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California for 95 years. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is then played on the following Monday. The Rose Bowl is nicknamed "The Granddaddy of Them All"...
, PasadenaPasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States; and is a satellite city of Los Angeles. Famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and the Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home of many leading scientific and cultural institutions, including the...
|
| 3-0 |
4-0 |
1994 FIFA World Cup 3rd place |
| 6. |
17 August 1994 |
SWE Råsunda, Stockholm |
| 4-2 |
4-2 |
Friendly |
| 7. |
1 June 1996 |
SWE Råsunda, Stockholm |
| 5-1 |
5-1 |
1998 FIFA World Cup qualification Listed below are the dates and results for the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for the European zone .A total of 50 UEFA teams entered the competition. The European zone was allocated 15 places in the final tournament...
|
| 8. |
1 June 1998 |
BUL Neftochimik Stadium, BurgasBurgas is the second-largest city and seaside resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast with population 210,260. It is also the fourth-largest by population in the country, after Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna...
|
| 0-1 |
0-1 |
UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying |
| 9. |
27 March 1999 |
SWE UlleviUllevi, Ullevi Stadium or Nya Ullevi as it is referred to by the inhabitants, meaning New Ullevi, to distinguish it from Gamla Ullevi , is a stadium in Gothenburg, Sweden. The stadium is also the biggest in Scandinavia. It was opened in 1958, its original use was as a venue for the 1958 World Cup...
, GothenburgGothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest amongst the Nordic countries. Situated on the south-west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 502,833 with 622,287 in the urban area and total of 911,406 inhabitants in the metropolitan area.The City of...
|
| 2-0 |
2-0 |
UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying |
| 10. |
9 October 1999 |
SWE Råsunda, Stockholm |
| 2-0 |
2-0 |
UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying |
| 11. |
19 June 2000 |
NED Philips StadionPhilips Stadion is the 35,119 seater stadium of football club, PSV Eindhoven. It was first inaugurated on 31 August 1913. The stadium is located in the Philipsdorp part of the Eindhoven borough of Strijp, close to Eindhoven's city centre....
, EindhovenEindhoven is a municipality and a city located in the province of Noord-Brabant in the south of the Netherlands, originally at the confluence of the Dommel and Gender streams...
|
| 1-1 |
1-2 |
UEFA Euro 2000 |
| 12. |
7 October 2000 |
SWE Ullevi, Gothenburg |
| 1-0 |
1-1 |
2002 FIFA World Cup qualification Listed below are the dates and results for the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for the European zone . For an overview of the qualification rounds, see the article 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification....
|
| 13. |
28 February 2001 |
MLT Ta'Qali StadiumTa' Qali National Stadium is the national stadium of Malta. It stages top local league and cup matches, as well as international matches. The stadium seats 17,000 people, although for concerts it can accommodate up to 35,000 people...
, Ta'QaliTa' Qali is a village in Malta, a wide open space in the middle of Malta containing the national stadium, Ta' Qali National Park and a national vegetable market which is locally known as the Pitkalija....
|
| 0-2 |
0-3 |
Friendly |
| 14. |
6 June 2001 |
SWE Ullevi, Gothenburg |
| 1-0 |
6-0 |
2002 FIFA World Cup qualificationA total of 199 teams entered the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds, competing for a total of 32 spots in the final tournament, an increase from 24 in the previous five World Cups...
|
| 15. |
6 June 2001 |
SWE Ullevi, Gothenburg |
| 2-0 |
6-0 |
2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 16. |
6 June 2001 |
SWE Ullevi, Gothenburg |
| 3-0 |
6-0 |
2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 17. |
6 June 2001 |
SWE Ullevi, Gothenburg |
| 6-0 |
6-0 |
2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 18. |
15 August 2001 |
SWE Råsunda, Stockholm |
| 1-0 |
3-0 |
Friendly |
| 19. |
1 September 2001 |
MKD City Stadium City Stadium is the name of several stadiums:*City Stadium in Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia- the stadium of the Penang FA *City Stadium in Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA - the home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers before the completion of Lambeau Field; also the original name of Lambeau Field*City Stadium...
, SkopjeSkopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia, with more than a quarter of the population of the country, as well as its political, cultural, economic, and academic centre. It was known in the Roman period under the name Scupi. The city developed rapidly after World War II,...
|
| 0-1 |
1-2 |
2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 20. |
5 September 2001 |
TUR Ali Sami Yen Stadium Ali Sami Yen Stadium is the home of the football club Galatasaray SK in Istanbul, Turkey. It is named after the founder of the club, Ali Sami Yen...
, IstanbulIstanbul is the largest city in Turkey and fifth largest city proper in the world with a population of 12.6 million. Istanbul is also a megacity, as well as the cultural and financial centre of Turkey. The city covers 39 districts of the Istanbul province...
|
| 1-1 |
1-2 |
2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 21. |
7 October 2001 |
SWE Råsunda, Stockholm |
| 2-0 |
3-0 |
2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 22. |
7 June 2002 |
JPN Kobe Wing Stadium , nicknamed , called Home's Stadium Kobe for the J. League association football events and the rugby football Top League events, is a football stadium in Misaki Park, Hyogo-ku, Kobe, Japan. The stadium's capacity is 30,132. This stadium is the home ground of J...
, Kobeis the sixth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture and a prominent port city in Japan with a population of about 1.5 million. The city is located in the Kansai region of Japan and is part of the metropolitan area...
|
| 1-1 |
2-1 |
2002 FIFA World CupThe 2002 FIFA World Cup, the 17th staging of the World Cup, was held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. The two countries were chosen as hosts by FIFA in May 1996 and was the first tournament in its history to be hosted by two countries. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia...
|
| 23. |
7 June 2002 |
JPN Kobe Wing Stadium, Kobe |
| 2-1 |
2-1 |
2002 FIFA World Cup |
| 24. |
16 June 2002 |
JPN Ōita Stadium Ōita Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in the city of Ōita in Ōita Prefecture on Kyushu Island in Japan.The stadium is usually called as Kyushu Oil Dome , sponsored by the Kyushu Oil. It is primarily used for football, and is the home field of J. League club Oita Trinita...
, Ōita-Companies:*Oita Asahi Broadcasting, a Japanese broadcast network in Oita Prefecture, Japan*Oita Broadcasting System, a television company based in Ōita Prefecture, Japan-Education:*Oita Junior College, a private junior college in Ōita, Ōita Prefecture, Japan...
|
| 1-1 |
1-1 |
2002 FIFA World Cup Round of 16The 2002 FIFA World Cup, the 17th staging of the World Cup, was held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. The two countries were chosen as hosts by FIFA in May 1996 and was the first tournament in its history to be hosted by two countries. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia...
|
| 25. |
5 June 2004 |
SWE Råsunda, Stockholm |
| 1-0 |
3-1 |
Friendly |
| 26. |
14 June 2004 |
POR Estádio José AlvaladeEstádio José Alvalade is a football stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, home of Sporting Clube de Portugal, one of the country's biggest clubs. It is the center of a complex called Alvalade XXI , designed by Portuguese architect...
, LisbonLisbon is the capital and largest city of Portugal. It is also the seat of the district of Lisbon and the main city of the Lisbon region...
|
| 2-0 |
5-0 |
UEFA Euro 2004 |
| 27. |
14 June 2004 |
POR Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon |
| 3-0 |
5-0 |
UEFA Euro 2004 |
| 28. |
22 June 2004 |
POR Estádio do Bessa Século XXI, PortoPorto , also known as Oporto in English, is Portugal's second city and capital of the Norte NUTS II region. The city is located in the estuary of the Douro river in northern Portugal. The largest city in the region, Porto is considered the economic and cultural heart of the entire region...
|
| 1-1 |
2-2 |
UEFA Euro 2004 |
| 29. |
4 September 2004 |
MLT National Stadium, Ta'Qali |
| 0-7 |
0-7 |
2006 FIFA World Cup qualification Listed below are the dates and results for the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for UEFA teams. A total of 51 teams took part, divided in 8 Groups - five groups of 6 teams each and three groups of 7 teams each - competing for 13 places in the World Cup...
|
| 30. |
9 October 2004 |
SWE Råsunda, Stockholm |
| 2-0 |
3-0 |
2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 31. |
13 October 2004 |
ISL LaugardalsvöllurLaugardalsvöllur is the national stadium of Iceland. It is located in Reykjavík, and seats 9,800 individuals, another 5,200 people can be seated on concrete benches, but due to FIFA restrictions they are rarely used. The first stand was constructed in 1958, the opposite stand in 1997 and the old...
, ReykjavíkReykjavík is the capital and largest city of Iceland. Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's most northern capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
|
| 0-1 |
1-4 |
2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 32. |
13 October 2004 |
ISL LaugardalsvöllurLaugardalsvöllur is the national stadium of Iceland. It is located in Reykjavík, and seats 9,800 individuals, another 5,200 people can be seated on concrete benches, but due to FIFA restrictions they are rarely used. The first stand was constructed in 1958, the opposite stand in 1997 and the old...
, ReykjavíkReykjavík is the capital and largest city of Iceland. Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's most northern capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
|
| 0-3 |
1-4 |
2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 33. |
17 August 2005 |
SWE Ullevi, Gothenburg |
| 1-0 |
2-1 |
Friendly |
| 34. |
12 September 2005 |
SWE Råsunda, Stockholm |
| 2-1 |
3-1 |
2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 35. |
2 June 2006 |
SWE Råsunda, Stockholm |
| 1-0 |
1-1 |
Friendly |
| 36. |
20 June 2006 |
GER RheinEnergieStadion The RheinEnergieStadion is a football stadium in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It was built on the site of the two previous Müngersdorfer stadiums. It is the home of the local Bundesliga team, 1. FC Köln. The stadium was one of the 12 hosting the 2006 FIFA World Cup...
, CologneCologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the German Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants...
|
| 2-2 |
2-2 |
2006 FIFA World CupThe 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th instance of the FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000...
|
| 37. |
20 August 2008 |
SWE Ullevi, Gothenburg |
| 1-0 |
2-3 |
Friendly |
Coaching
Larsson intends to take up coaching at the end of his playing career and has expressed an interest in returning to
CelticThe Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. Since the club's formation in 1888, Celtic have won the Scottish championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the 2007/08 season, and the Scottish...
in a coaching capacity.
Personal life
Larsson's father is from the
Cape VerdeThe Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago located in the Macaronesia ecoregion of the North Atlantic Ocean, off the western coast of Africa, opposite Mauritania and Senegal....
Islands, and his mother is Swedish. In 1996 he married Magdalena. They have one son and one daughter.
On 6 June 2009, before
Sweden'sThe Swedish national football team is the national football team of Sweden and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association.-History:...
1-0 loss against
DenmarkThe Denmark national football team is controlled by the Danish Football Association and has represented the country of Denmark in international football competitions since 1908...
, Larsson's brother Robert Larsson was found dead in his flat in
HelsingborgHelsingborg Helsingborg Helsingborg ( is a locality and the seat of Helsingborg Municipality, Skåne County, Sweden with 91,457 inhabitants in 2005. The population of Helsingborg city is increasing by around 1,700 people every year....
, in south-west Sweden. Henrik was not told until after the match had concluded.
Career statistics
- (correct as of 5 October 2009)
|-
|1989||rowspan="3"|
HögaborgHögaborgs BK is a Swedish football club from Helsingborg that was founded in 1927. They currently play in the Swedish third division . The club is most known for breeding young talented players...
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|1990||||21||7||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||21||7
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|1991||||32||15||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||32||15
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|1992||rowspan="2"|
HelsingborgHelsingborgs IF , most commonly referred to as HIF, or Helsingborg, is a Swedish football club located in Helsingborg. The club, formed 4 June 1907, has won six national championship titles and three national cup titles. They are currently playing in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan...
||
SuperettanSuperettan is the second highest league in the league system of Swedish football and comprises 16 Swedish football teams. It was created in 2000. Before that, the second level league in Sweden had been Division 1....
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1993Allsvenskan 1993, part of the 1993 Swedish football season, was the 69th Allsvenskan season played. IFK Göteborg won the league ahead of runners-up IFK Norrköping, while Örgryte IS and IK Brage were relegated.- League table :...
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AllsvenskanAllsvenskan is the highest league in the league system of Swedish football. The league was created in 1924. Before that, the top league in Sweden had been called Svenska Serien. Since 2008 season 16 teams have taken part instead of 14 previously.- Status :The champions of the Allsvenskan are...
||25||16||5||1||colspan="2"|-||30||17
|-
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1993–94The Dutch Eredivisie in the 1993/1994 season was contested by 18 teams. Ajax won the championship.-League standings:1 Winners KNVB Cup.
...
||rowspan="4"|Feyenoord||rowspan="4"|
EredivisieFor the Eredivisie for female football see: Eredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands.The top division consists of 18 clubs. Each club faces every other club twice during the season, once at home and once away...
||15||1||12||5||colspan="2"|-||27||6
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1994–95The Dutch Eredivisie in the 1994/1995 season was contested by 18 teams. Ajax won the championship. Starting this season, clubs qualifying for the Intertoto Cup can play for a spot in the UEFA Cup.-League standings:1 Winners KNVB Cup.
...
||23||8||9||1||6||7||38||16
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1995–96The Dutch Eredivisie in the 1995/1996 season was contested by 18 teams. Ajax won the championship.-League standings:1 Winners KNVB Cup...
||32||10||4||1||7||1||43||12
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1996–97The Dutch Eredivisie in the 1996/1997 season was contested by 18 teams. PSV won the championship.-League standings:1 Winners KNVB Cup...
||31||7||4||0||6||1||41||8
|-
|1997–98||rowspan="7"|
CelticThe Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. Since the club's formation in 1888, Celtic have won the Scottish championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the 2007/08 season, and the Scottish...
||Premier Division||35||16||5||0||4||0||44||16
|-
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1998–99The 1998–99 Scottish Premier League season was the inaugural season of Scottish Premier League football. It began on 1 August 1998.-Overview:...
||rowspan="6"|
Premier LeagueThe Scottish Premier League is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top level of the Scottish football league system — above the Scottish Football League.Per capita, more people in Scotland watch their domestic top level league than any other nation in...
||35||29||8||2||8||4||51||35
|-
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1999–2000The 1999–2000 Scottish Premier League was the second season of the Scottish Premier League. It began in on 31 July 1999.-Overview:The 1999–2000 Scottish Premier League was won by Rangers for the second successive year, finishing 21 points ahead of nearest rivals Celtic...
||9||8||8||2||4||5||21||15
|-
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2000–01The 2000–01 Scottish Premier League was the third season of the Scottish Premier League. It began in on 29 July 2000.-Overview:2000–01 saw the Scottish Premier League expanded from 10 to 12 clubs, with the league 'split' introduced...
||37||35||7||5||5||4||49||44
|-
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2001–02The 2001–02 Scottish Premier League was won by Celtic.As league champions, Celtic qualified for the UEFA Champions League. Runners-up Rangers and third-placed Livingston qualified for the UEFA Cup, as did fourth-placed Aberdeen, who took the final UEFA Cup place due to Rangers beating Celtic...
||33||29||3||2||10||4||46||35
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2002–03The 2002–03 Scottish Premier League was won by Rangers.As league champions, Rangers qualified for the UEFA Champions League, with runners-up Celtic also qualifying...
||35||27||2||2||12||12||49||41
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2003–04The 2003–04 Scottish Premier League was won by Celtic.As league champions, Celtic qualified for the UEFA Champions League, with runners-up Rangers also qualifying...
||37||30||5||5||15||6||57||41
|-
|2004–05||rowspan="2"|
BarcelonaFútbol Club Barcelona , also known simply as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça , is a football club based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The team was founded in 1899 by a group of Swiss, English and Spanish men led by Joan Gamper. The club has become a Catalan institution, hence the motto "Més que...
||rowspan="2"|
La LigaThe Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, in terms of sponsorship, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional football league in Spain...
||12||3||colspan="2"|-||4||1||16||4
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|2005–06||28||10||colspan="2"|-||10||1||38||11
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2006Allsvenskan 2006, part of the 2006 Swedish football season, was the 82nd Allsvenskan season played. The first match was played 1 April 2006 and the last match was played 5 November 2006...
||
HelsingborgHelsingborgs IF , most commonly referred to as HIF, or Helsingborg, is a Swedish football club located in Helsingborg. The club, formed 4 June 1907, has won six national championship titles and three national cup titles. They are currently playing in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan...
||
AllsvenskanAllsvenskan is the highest league in the league system of Swedish football. The league was created in 1924. Before that, the top league in Sweden had been called Svenska Serien. Since 2008 season 16 teams have taken part instead of 14 previously.- Status :The champions of the Allsvenskan are...
||15||8||5||4||colspan="2"|-||20||12
|-
|2006–07||
Manchester UnitedManchester United Football Club is an English football club, one of the most popular football clubs in the world, based at Old Trafford in Greater Manchester. The club was a founding member of the Premier League in 1992, and has played in the top division of English football since 1938, with the...
||Premier League||7||1||4||1||2||1||13||3
|-
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2007Allsvenskan 2007, part of the 2007 Swedish football season, was the 83rd Allsvenskan season played. The first match was played 6 April 2007 and the last match was played 28 October 2007...
||rowspan="3"|
HelsingborgHelsingborgs IF , most commonly referred to as HIF, or Helsingborg, is a Swedish football club located in Helsingborg. The club, formed 4 June 1907, has won six national championship titles and three national cup titles. They are currently playing in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan...
||rowspan="3"|
AllsvenskanAllsvenskan is the highest league in the league system of Swedish football. The league was created in 1924. Before that, the top league in Sweden had been called Svenska Serien. Since 2008 season 16 teams have taken part instead of 14 previously.- Status :The champions of the Allsvenskan are...
||22||9||1||0||9||9||32||18
|-
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2008Allsvenskan 2008, part of the 2008 Swedish football season, was the 84th Allsvenskan season played. The first match was played on 30 March 2008 and the last matches were played on 9 November 2008.- Participating clubs :-Managers:- Standings :...
||27||16||1||0||2||0||30||16
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2009Allsvenskan 2009, part of the 2009 Swedish football season, is the 85th Allsvenskan season played.-Participating teams:-Overview:-Standings:-Results:...
||17||7||1||0||4||3||21||10
210||113||13||5||15||12||238||130
101||26||29||7||19||9||149||42
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40||13||colspan="2"|-||14||2||54||15
7||1||4||1||2||1||13||3
579||327||84||31||108||59||769||415
|}
Honours
Feyenoord
- KNVB Cup
The KNVB Cup is a competition in the Netherlands organized by the Royal Netherlands Football Association since 1899. It was based on the format of the English FA Cup. Outside of the Netherlands, it is often referred to as the Dutch Cup...
: 1993–94The 1993/1994 season in Dutch football saw Ajax Amsterdam winning the title in the Eredivisie, while Feyenoord Rotterdam won the Dutch National Cup.
-PTT Telecom Cup:...
, 1994–95The 1994/95 season in Dutch football saw Ajax Amsterdam winning the title in the Eredivisie, while Feyenoord Rotterdam won the Dutch National Cup. For the first time in history of Dutch professional football a club stayed unbeaten in the highest league...
CelticThe Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. Since the club's formation in 1888, Celtic have won the Scottish championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the 2007/08 season, and the Scottish...
- Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top level of the Scottish football league system — above the Scottish Football League.Per capita, more people in Scotland watch their domestic top level league than any other nation in...
: 1997–98The 1997–98 season was the 101st season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish Premier Division:-Top Scorers:-Table:-Top Scorers:-Table:-Top Scorers:-Table:-Top Scorers:-Cup honours:-SPFA awards:-SFWA awards:...
, 2000–01The 2000–01 Scottish Premier League was the third season of the Scottish Premier League. It began in on 29 July 2000.-Overview:2000–01 saw the Scottish Premier League expanded from 10 to 12 clubs, with the league 'split' introduced...
, 2001–02The 2001–02 Scottish Premier League was won by Celtic.As league champions, Celtic qualified for the UEFA Champions League. Runners-up Rangers and third-placed Livingston qualified for the UEFA Cup, as did fourth-placed Aberdeen, who took the final UEFA Cup place due to Rangers beating Celtic...
, 2003–04The 2003–04 Scottish Premier League was won by Celtic.As league champions, Celtic qualified for the UEFA Champions League, with runners-up Rangers also qualifying...
- Scottish League Cup
The Scottish Football League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Co-operative Insurance Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with Co-operative Insurance Society. In the past it has been...
: 1997–98, 2000–01
- Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the Scottish Cup, and as the Active Nation Scottish Cup for sponsorship reasons, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football...
: 2000–01, 2003–04
BarcelonaFútbol Club Barcelona , also known simply as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça , is a football club based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The team was founded in 1899 by a group of Swiss, English and Spanish men led by Joan Gamper. The club has become a Catalan institution, hence the motto "Més que...
- La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, in terms of sponsorship, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional football league in Spain...
: 2004–05, 2005–06
- Spanish Super Cup: 2005–06
- UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe...
: 2005–06The 2005–06 UEFA Champions League was the 51st staging of UEFA's premier European club football tournament, the UEFA Champions League, and the 14th since it was rebranded from the European Cup in 1992. 74 teams from 50 football associations took part, starting with the first qualifying round played...
HelsingborgHelsingborgs IF , most commonly referred to as HIF, or Helsingborg, is a Swedish football club located in Helsingborg. The club, formed 4 June 1907, has won six national championship titles and three national cup titles. They are currently playing in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan...
- Swedish Cup
Svenska Cupen is the main Swedish football Cup. The winners qualify for the UEFA Cup.Each year , 98 teams compete, comprising the 14 teams from Allsvenskan and the 16 teams of Superettan together with 68...
: 2006
Manchester UnitedManchester United Football Club is an English football club, one of the most popular football clubs in the world, based at Old Trafford in Greater Manchester. The club was a founding member of the Premier League in 1992, and has played in the top division of English football since 1938, with the...
Individual
- European Golden Boot
The European Golden Shoe, formerly known as the European Golden Boot, is an association football award presented each season to the leading goalscorer in league matches from the top division of every European national league...
: 2000–01
- SFWA Footballer of the Year
The Scottish Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year is an annual award given to the player who is adjudged to have been the best of the season in Scottish football...
: 1998–99, 2000–01
- SPFA Players' Player of the Year: 1998–99, 2000–01
- Guldbollen
Guldbollen, , award given by the daily tabloid Aftonbladet and the Swedish Football Association to the best male Swedish footballer each year. The female equivalent is Diamantbollen.- Winners :...
: 1998, 2004
- UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is a competition for eligible European football clubs; the second most prestigious European football contest after the UEFA Champions League. It is an annual football cup competition for European club teams organised by the Union of European Football Associations...
Top Goalscorer: 2002-03
- SPL Top Goalscorer: 1998–99, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04
- Scottish Football Hall of Fame
The Scottish Football Hall of Fame is located at the Scottish Football Museum. Inductees are picked each year by fans and a committee selects the eight finalists who are inducted at an annual dinner.-2004 Inaugural Inductees:...
: 2006
- Tidernas Guldboll (All-time best Swedish football player): 2005
- All-time leading SPL scorer (158 goals)
Orders and special awards
- UEFA Jubilee Awards
To celebrate the Union of European Football Associations 's 50th anniversary in 2004, each of its member associations was asked by UEFA to choose one of its own players as the single most outstanding player of the past 50 years . The 52 players were known as the Golden Players...
- Greatest Swedish Footballer of the last 50 YearsTo celebrate the Union of European Football Associations 's 50th anniversary in 2004, each of its member associations was asked by UEFA to choose one of its own players as the single most outstanding player of the past 50 years . The 52 players were known as the Golden Players...
: 2003
- Honorary Doctor of the University from the University of Strathclyde
The University of Strathclyde , Glasgow, Scotland, is Glasgow's second university by age, founded in 1796, and receiving its Royal Charter in 1964 as the UK's first technological university. It takes its name from the historic Kingdom of Strathclyde...
: 2005
- Member of the Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions...
: 2006
- H. M. The King's Medal
H. M. The King's Medal , earlier known as the Court Medal , was created in 1814 and is available different sizes in gold and silver with chain or ribbon. The 12th size is the largest....
: 2007
Floorball career
Larsson also played
floorballFloorball, a type of floor hockey, is an indoor team sport which was developed in the 1970s. It is a fast paced sport, with limited physical contact allowed. Floorball is most popular in areas where the sport has developed the longest, such as the Czech Republic, Finland, Sweden, and Switzerland...
at a competitive level in 1989. On 23 November 2008, he resumed his floorball career when he played his first
Swedish Super LeagueSwedish Super League is the highest league in the league system of Swedish floorball and comprises the top 12 Swedish floorball teams. The first season began in 1995-96. The season ends with a play-off and a final.-History:...
game, for Helsingborg. In his second game for the club, he made two assists, and was voted man of the match.
External links