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Henrik Larsson (born September 20, 1971 in Helsingborg, Skåne län, Sweden)
is a Swedish international football player. Henrik's father is from the Cape
Verde Islands off the coast of West Africa.
Having completed seven very successful years with Celtic in Glasgow,
Scotland, after the end of the 2003/04 season he signed a one year contract
with an option for a second year for Spanish giants Barcelona. Despite
having missed the majority of season 2004/2005 through injury, the option to
play in season 2005/2006 was extended and accepted.
***
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Larsson started his professional career playing for Högaborg at the age of
17. He subsequently played for Helsingborgs IF and Feyenoord. Although he
was finalising the details of the contract with Grasshopper-Club Zürich in
1993 he moved to Feyenoord for £295,000. He was signed by Celtic manager Wim
Jansen in July 1997 for a fee of £650,000. His debut, playing Hibernian at
Easter Road, was less than spectacular; he inadvertently passed the ball to
the Hib's player (and well-known Celtic Fan), Chic Charnley, resulting in a
2 - 1 loss for Celtic. He didn't fare much better in his first European game,
scoring an own goal, although Celtic did run out 6 - 2 winners.
Larsson scored 242 goals for Celtic, in 315 matches, making him Celtic's
third all-time record goal scorer (in all competitions).
In 2001 he won the "Golden Shoe" award for being Europe's top goal scorer,
with 35 league goals. His total in all competitions that season was 53.
In 2003, he scored two superb goals in the UEFA Cup Final, although
opponents Porto went on to win 3-2. His goalscoring feats on the continent
for Celtic mean he holds the record for number of goals scored for a British
club in European matches.
In 2004, after having moved to Barcelona, he scored 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...".[1]
In 2004, The Swedish Football Association bestowed upon him the accolade "greatest
Swedish football player of the last 50 years."
His decision to retire from international football met with much dismay in
his homeland and there was much clamouring for him to return to the team for
their campaign at 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 international record is impressive with 33 goals in 83 games, many
of which he played in midfield or as a winger. He has always made his mark
on big occasions and has scored at two World Cups (1994 at which Sweden came
3rd, and 2002), and two European Championships (2000 and 2004).
He is married and has two children, Jordan (born 1997) and Janice (born
2002).
Profile:
Full name: Henrik Larsson
DOB: September 20, 1971
Birthplace: Helsingborg, Sweden
Nationality: Swedish
EU passport: Yes
Height: 178 cm
Weight: 72 kg
Club: FC Barcelona
Position: Forward [C]
Number: 7
Contract Expires: June 2006
Previous Clubs: Helsingborg > Feyenoord > Celtic > released > (free)
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