PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Henrik Larsson is one of Swedish football’s greatest ever.
He has also left a huge mark on the world of football.
– A player who had a big impact on my career was Henrik Larsson, admits superstar Samuel Eto’o in an interview.
He was nicknamed “The King and Kings” during his heyday in Scotland. Henrik Larsson is truly one of Swedish football’s greatest footballers ever and out in Europe he has left a big mark behind him.
After scoring goals for Helsingborgs IF, “Henke” took the step into the world of football in 1994, the same year he won the World Cup bronze medal with the Swedish national team, and signed for Feyenoord. It would be the start of an absolutely fantastic career abroad for the Högaborg product.
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In 1997 came the move to Scottish Celtic that would change Larsson’s life forever. Because he poured in goals in the green and white striped shirt – or how about 174 goals in 221 games?
Eto’o’s tribute
Then the giant Barcelona called and then Henke would take the step up to the absolute top of the world. And to this day people talk about the Swede’s great importance to the club, just ask superstar Samuel Eto’o who gives the most powerful tribute to Larsson.
– A player who had a big impact on my career was Henrik Larsson. When he came to us from Celtic, we all knew what a great footballer he was, but the impression he left in our dressing room is something that cannot be explained, says the striker from Cameroon in an interview, according to the Facebook group “Celtic FC to the core”.
– At the end of the first season, we all looked up to him so much that Ronaldinho and some of the other A team players gave him the nickname “Idolo”, which means “the idol”.
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Henrik Larsson became an important mentor for Samuel Eto’o and he learned a lot about how to play as a striker.
– Personally, he taught me to become invisible on the pitch and how to make opponents forget about you. He showed me how to disappear from the defenders’ point of view, but still keep running and always be available, says the former teammate.
– I learned patience and calm in front of the goal from him and how to work for the team to help other teammates.
“Guilty Henry”
The best example of Henke’s great importance for Barcelona is the 2006 Champions League final against Arsenal.
– It is no coincidence that the Champions League final changed completely when he entered the pitch, we had difficulty finding spaces and were 0-1 down against Arsenal. But when “Idolo” came into the game, he had created two chances in 15 minutes and made two decisive assists so that we could turn around and win, says Eto’o.
– It was my most important goal, my most important victory and my finest moment in my career and I owe Henrik everything.
READ MORE: SVT expert Alhaji Jeng’s heartwarming words about the icon Henrik Larsson go straight to the hearts of all Swedes: “Thank you for existing”
The Swedish attacking legend left Barcelona after two seasons and returned home to Helsingborg to end his career, although there was a small guest appearance at Manchester United as well. But his memories will live on for a long time at Barça.
– When he came to us (Barcelona) we had not won the league title for a decade and not the Champions League since 1992, but within two seasons with him in the team we won both titles, says Samuel Eto’o in the interview.
– When he left Camp Nou, he was a hero to both the supporters and the players as much. It’s no surprise that the young players in that squad, like Xavi, (Andres) Iniesta and (Lionel) Messi would have such fine careers after training with a mentor like Larsson. He was our “Idolo”.
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