Henrik Larsson - The Genius from Sweden
USA 1994 saw the Swedes upset several top notch countries to qualify for the semi finals of the world cup.The swede attack of Tomas Brolin , Martin Dahlin and Kenneth Andersson stung the Russians, drew the Cameroon and the Brazil teams to qualify for the 2nd round and eventually finished 3rd in the tournament.
After the resurgence in 1994, the Swedes dissapointed their fans by not making it to the finals of World cup 1998.They did qualify for the 2002 World Cup with the birth of their Super striker Henrik Larsson.
Henrik Larsson knew he wanted to be a professional soccer player from the time he started walking. His dad gave Henrik a ball when he was just 16 months old and from that moment on, he spent most of his free time playing soccer. There was a soccer field right beside Henrik Larsson's home in Helsingborg where he, his two brothers and several other kids in the neighborhood would play soccer every day. Henrik Larsson loved soccer but he didn't always like school. He had problems with some of the ignorant buttmunches in his class. Henrik's father is from the Cape Verde Islands off the West African coast. Sweden is very blonde and blue so Henrik's roots stood out. "There was a lot of rascism in Sweden when I was young. Back then it was unusual to have a black kid at school. I was one of the few, so I had to stand up for myself," says Henrik Larsson.
Henrik Larsson's dream of becoming a pro came true at the age of 21 when he was signed by Helsingborg IF. He was among the league's top scorers and was picked to play for Sweden at the 1994 World Cup which was played in the USA. Henrik Larsson scored the winning goal on a penalty kick in a quarter-final game against Romania and became a hero in Sweden.
In 1997, Henrik Larsson signed with Glasgow Celtic of the Scottish Premier League. His goal-scoring abilities, enthusiasm and wild dreadlocks made Henrik one of the team's most popular players. In 1998, he helped Celtic win their first Scottish title in 10 years. He continues to be one of the best players in the Scottish Premiership and is leading the league in scoring in 2001-2002.
In 2001 he won the "Golden Boot" award for being Europe's top goal scorer, with 35 league goals. His total in all competitions that season was 53.
Larsson's international record is impressive with 34 goals in 88 games, many of which he played in midfield or as a winger. He has always made his mark on big occasions and has scored at two World Cups (1994 at which Sweden came 3rd, and 2002), and two European Championships (2000 and 2004).In 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.
In January of 2006, Henrik announced his decision to leave his current club F.C. Barcelona and return to Sweden at the end of his current contract in July 2006, revealing that he politely refused a verbal promise by club president Joan Laporta to extend his contract to the end of the next season. Larsson thinks that at 34 and having a very successful career behind him, it is time to retire from Barça and enjoy his last years in his homeland.
In April 2006 it was reported that team mate Ronaldinho said of Larsson- "With Henrik leaving us at the end of the season this club is losing a great scorer, no question. But I am also losing a great friend. Henrik was my idol and now that I am playing next to him it is fantastic. He is a real friend and that is a pleasure. I just want to enjoy the remaining time he has with us rather than dwell on what we will be missing when he's gone. I haven't tried to convince Henrik to stay at Barcelona. I respect him so much that I can't try to influence his decision. It's something he has thought about for a long time. I'm not happy he's leaving but I'm not going to pressure him at all. At Henrik's age many players announce their retirement from international football but no one I know his age is at the great physical level Henrik is at right now. He could play at the highest level for a long time."[2]
Barring any serious injury, Larsson is expected to feature at the 2006 World Cup in Germany where he will team up with Juventus star Zlatan Ibrahimovic in what is likely to be his last World Cup.
In May 2006 he was given the honor of Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by the British Embassy in Barcelona, in name of Queen Elizabeth II for his contributions to British football during the years he spent playing at Glasgow.
At 35 will Henrik Larsson show his magic at 2006 destination germany ? Lets wait to see his boot do the talking...
posted by Vasudev Udhatya @ 6:32 AM
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