Henrik Larsson: Celtic Hero, Man United & Playing With Messi and Ronaldo | Stick to Football EP 110

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0:34Is that the Swedish shop? Do you get it over in Sweden? No, I think you've got a contact somewhere. I can get a watch here.

0:44Wow. Yeah. How are you, Emmerich? I'm all right. I can't complain. Oh, you sound like you're going to. No. It's going to be really interesting how you do this because you know I don't speak very much. Thanks for that, Emmerich. Emmerich, you do. I'm going to sit in on one of ours. Eric, you need to go on Monday Night Football with him. Monday Night Football? Yeah. Hmm. Yeah. Hmm. Is it the Monday Night Football or me? No, I don't have anything against you. Or for him. That might change in the next hour. Yeah, it might do, actually. Did you play against Cara? Did you ever play against him? Yeah, we did.

1:25Did we? We played, I think, in Euros 2000. I don't think I played in the Euros. You didn't? Two. No, 2004. No, I didn't play. I didn't come on for a minute. 2008? No, we weren't in 2008. We didn't make it. Did you? Yes, you did. England? Oh, we did. Yes, so we did. No, sorry. 2006 World Cup in Germany. Oh, yeah, yeah. I played right back that game. Oh, Joel Cole scored. You played right back, did you? Did we? Yeah, you must have been injured again. Yeah. I was. Did we play Celtic Liverpool in UEFA Cup? Yeah. 2003? Yeah, the year we went to the final. Yes. Yeah. We drew at Celtic and then you beat us at Anfield 2-0.

2:04Yeah. Yes, Jill. I know. Oh. Thanks. Hello, by the way. Hi again. How are you? You OK? I'm good. When did you come in, Henrik? This morning. Fly from where? From Copenhagen. How beautiful is Copenhagen? It's lovely. It's lovely. Expensive. Yeah. £12 or£15. I still live there now. Henrik calms me. Henrik calms me. He just calms me. That's my jacket. I just hung that on. Are you going to wear it? No. So what did you bring it for? Have you come in this? I came in and that, yeah. It was on the railing. I know it was. He's got my jacket on. He's taken my gear. I told you. That is so funny. Let's just make sure this is switched off.

2:50There's a horn off. Make sure your horn's off. I've seen yours. It's nicer. So I left mine in the rain. I think it looks nice, yeah. Bit snug on you. Bit snug. What's happening, bro? You look great. Yeah, you as well. Proper striker. Real striker. Gold record, you must score. Henrik's the one. Don't ask me numbers. Come on. Can we get the gold stats? Can we compare gold stats? How are you going to do this, boys? Because I'm a man of few words, you know. But Henrik, you're calming. You're just relaxing. It could just be a nice chat. Good. We just need a nice chat. What's your favourite city, Henrik?

3:28Favourite city in the world or in Europe? Both. Both. Glasgow. Yeah, Glasgow. Glasgow's good. Yeah, Glasgow's great. You love Glasgow? Yeah. But when you're in the glass, then you can love Glasgow. You're like some sort of like... Miami is not bad where I met you. Yeah. Miami? No! He's been to Qatar. He goes to America once a month to do NBC. I'm global. I'm global. I was in a restaurant in Miami and then I see them. You, Gixey and... Bex. No, Bex wasn't there. But, is it? I was called. And then you saw me at the Champions League final. Yeah, I met you the last time at the Champions League final.

4:13Barry, have you ever seen him at Barry? You've never heard of Barry. No, I don't even have a clue. I gotta say no. That's where he's from. Have you got a statue in Glasgow? Of course not. Have you got a Freedom of the City of Glasgow? No, but I got... I'm a doctor at Strat-Clyde University. Honorary doctorate. Oh, that's good. Glasgow, you need to give this man freedom of... You know the thing, if Henrik had a statue at Glasgow, of course he'd have to be outside, because, like, they'd deface it, wouldn't they? It's hard to put... He doesn't need a statue. He's cooler than that. Most. People don't want statues and cool.

4:49I already have one, so... Where? Back home in Huston. Yeah, but not in Glasgow. You've got a statue back home? Yeah.

4:59Is he good? He's better than Ronaldo's That's not hard When they did your statue was it just loads of cameras take one picture? I don't have a clue what he did but it was somebody doing movies for Hollywood and I don't know he measured everything and still I ended up shorter than I am It's a nice one It's good I'm honoured about that So that's alright It's great that you're on You look good You look fantastic Yeah But I can't move properly so I know it doesn't matter But you look good How are your hips? No it's not my hips It's my knee I just had my knee done I've got a fused ankle My knee You know All for the game Your head's most important Yeah your head's hard My head's okay Henry what do you do then To keep fit?

5:53Oh Play Pavel play golf take care of the grandkids he loves paddling golf Roy doesn't understand paddle can you explain to him how good a sport it is Roy don't like golf I don't play it very often though but every now and then no I'm not an idea it's just everyone when someone mentions a new sport everyone's like oh it's great it's great and I'm a bit hold on a second you just want to make sure yeah just yeah I'd like to take my time before I dive in take my word for it is it good then it's good it's better than tennis it's better than tennis well because you don't have to move as much exactly and we all all of us getting a little bit older so we have to be what about your golf man have you ever played against each other like in pro-am do you golfers get together for all that stuff don't you sorry have we played golf together we played against each other oh me and Gullit yeah played against me and Janus Janus yeah we beat them that's a handy double what we beat we beat them sorry they beat us exactly they did Rude, yeah, but Rude is...

6:55Rude's really good. Rude is really good. The carrier. Yeah, of course. Jermaine's good as well. Righty, what's your number? What do you play off? Seven. That's good. Do you play seven? Seven now, yeah. Plus now that my knee's good. Oh, my God. Because, you know, with the knee, Henrik, you can load it up now. Yeah, you can load it up proper. I couldn't turn because my knee was so bad. I had to get here and then I'd come back so you don't finish the swing. Seven's brilliant. Now I can finish the swing. What are you off, Henrik? 10.1. Wow. He's a lot better. That's where you win the money. He's a lot better than that, especially when I remember where you was.

7:27Especially, Rude was amazing. Is Rude? Yeah, good, yeah. Does Rude play off scratch? I'd say probably, no, he wouldn't because he's, again, he wants to win all the time so he'll give himself some shots. Yeah, I think so. Is he humble with it? No! Jesus Christ! There is a video. He recorded a video of our faces and your faces. I don't have it, unfortunately. Oh, God, I'd love to see you find it Because, you know, he does this stupid face, what he does as well, like this.

7:58He's so funny. When does he do that face? He just messes about. He's one of the funnest guys. You see where he's on there. He's a funny guy. Stick to Football is brought to you by Arm Clothing. Tell you a story now that nobody really knows. They won't wait for you. I don't know how many goals I scored, but I know I scored a lot. You're a legend, Celtic, but there's always that thing, oh, it's the Scottish league. Yeah, that's what you English say. No, bro. Daddy, daddy, why are you always away? I'm not proud of it, but that's the way the times were back then. Karen Roy a smirky day. Never hit first.

8:41Yeah. Awkward. Woo! What do you think about that one? Biggest myth about Henry Larson? That I'm boring.

8:58Oh. Emric. You said there about... Let's talk about it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Get your stats on. Get your stats on. I have to say, I'm getting older, I can't remember everything. Do you know something? You've definitely played under Martin O 'Neill, haven't you? Yes. Because you've got the same humour. You know what I mean? You've got the same... Do you all think? Definitely got the same humour of Martin. Do you think some of him has rubbed off on you? He's much more funny than I am. But you've got that same sort of dry delivery. Yeah, dry, yeah. But that's me. Has it always been you? Yeah, I have to say.

9:32Just that energy all the time, Andrew. Yeah, relaxed, never getting stressed. Is that from your mum, your dad? Which part of your... I think it's from my upbringing. I don't know. A quote here. You grew up in Helsingberg with a Cape Verdean father and a Swedish mother, but he said, I see myself as foreign. I never felt 100 % Swedish. I don't think I felt Swedish until I succeeded on the football pitch. Wow. Yeah, I think that's probably right. Why? Because back in the days, it's not like it is today. I mean, it's much more multicultural, you say, in English. Back then, I think we were maybe four persons like me, a little bit darker and there wasn't very many that looked like me.

10:26So you would always stand out in a sense. People will always know where you were and where you've been and what you've been doing because you were different. But I felt as soon as I started doing good with the football, people tend to forget and don't don't look the same way as they maybe done before they accepted you yeah yeah so when did when did the locks come when did you when did you put how old was you when you've done the locks when i started oh when i started doing the dreads i was maybe 14 yeah how was that how was that taken no nobody said anything i mean first you know with this kind kind of here, it grows.

11:16And then it's, now I use some products in the hair. Sitting down a little bit. But then it, yeah, it comes together. And then you leave it. And yeah, nobody said that much. And also we talked about Gullit. Yes. He was the one. Earlier. And I mean, you saw him as well. And yeah, there was somebody else who'd done something. Before, I mean, when I was young, my mother used to cut my hair. And I didn't go to the hairdresser. and just first now when I got my hair back that I started going to the hairdresser again because back then there wasn't the opportunity to have that. So, yeah.

11:57I had like a big bubble like that and then you try to like, between the classes when you were doing some sports or whatever, you try to put some water in it to try to get it down a little bit. You're cutting it down. Yeah. And then I just said, yeah, when I was 14, I said, yeah, I heard something about the dreads. And, well, I tried. And I didn't know what to do. But obviously, when it starts growing together, then you have to split them a little bit. And, yeah, it was just a chance to have a different haircut. Yeah, but what was the attention like? Because obviously you're saying it was different.

12:38There's not many black people in where you are. and now all of a sudden you're wearing dreads as well. Yeah, I know, but obviously people knew me more than that. Right. Because there wasn't very many that had dreads. Right. It was an older Afro-American ex-basketball player who had it in Helsingborg, but other than that, there wasn't that many. Okay, so he says, there's a quote here, Rick, that says that basically if they call you names, you used to hit them or lay down and cry and get on with it. That's the options you've got. they're the options you've got? I mean, either you fight for it or you lay down and cry and just give up.

13:15And I'm not proud of it, but I fought a lot my first years in school during the breaks. How old are you then? You start when you're seven, so seven, eight, nine. It's mad you have to fight. And then, yeah, if somebody calls you your name, yeah. You just scrap in with them. Yeah. Did you get into trouble for that? Yes. Yeah, I did, because obviously it's not the way you should handle it. You should be able to talk about it. It's hard at school. It's hard, but, yeah, I had two brothers at the time as well, one older, one younger, so it was a little bit of fighting at home as well. So, yeah, you practice a little bit.

13:59I'm not proud of it, but that's the way the times were back then, and that's what I did and, yeah, I can't undo it. What would your parents say about sort of that in terms of obviously how you handled it? Were they supportive? No, I mean, yeah, I mean, my mum said, if they're nasty... Then be nasty. Yeah. Hit them back. Yeah. Don't never ever hit first. Yeah. That's what I got. Yeah. I think every parent... You have to say that. He gets sent to school with that message, don't he, from the parents? And there's still some kids who hit first. Karen Roy smirking there. Never hit first. Oh, dear, awkward.

14:46It's true, though. Never hit first. No, and if they hit you... Then you can go to town. Then you hit them back. And obviously, every parent-teacher meeting, there was always something about that. And, yeah, that's life. But I think that also moulded me into the person I am today. What was the best advice that you got that you remember as a kid? As a kid? In what sense? In the sense of just growing up, what's the thing that informs you and your principles and your values? Treat others the way you yourself want to be treated. That's not always possible, but try to do it. if you don't like him now when I'm older if I don't like anybody I just do and I go on and I don't put any energy at it at all because there's no point I mean I'm just getting emotional but the other person doesn't care because they don't they don't really care I think about that but how I'm not just saying this to patronise you when you came down to Manchester you were like an incredible team mate in terms of popularity within the dressing room.

16:00We never wanted you, obviously, to leave. You came down for a short period. I can't understand how you would ever actually have an argument or fight with someone, the way in which you are and your sort of manner about how you go about things. Oh, but that's what I became. I mean, in the early stage, then you have to find what am I, where am I, where can I fit in, and you have to learn to be sometimes a chameleon, you say? because, I mean, you have to be able to handle all kinds of different people. Yeah. And if I'm in a dressing room, that's an environment that I'm totally secure in because I've been there so many years in my life, so that's never a problem.

16:43What are the sort of things that you just won't, what are your non-negotiables that you sort of think that you just won't accept as a football player but also off the pitch? can you be a little bit more specific Gary you're definitely like Martin O 'Neill

17:09what principles what sort of traits would you say that are things that you sort of won't accept in other people that would mean that you would push back not just things that you just don't like what don't you take to in life what things don't you like Rude. Phones going off? I heard about that one. No, but playing with other people's time is nothing nice. If you do it once, yeah, that's okay. But if it's a pattern, it's never good. Being a bully in the sense of making fun of others that really can't defend themselves. Mocking them. Yeah, I hate it because it's so easy. If you're in a powerful position and making something, saying something, I don't like that at all.

17:56It's cowardly, yeah. You want more answers? Yeah. I'm enjoying listening to you because it's nice to listen to you speak, actually. Just peaceful. It's just that, yeah, but what Enric's saying is that he's gone, because what he's been through, he's at a place now where he's at total peace now. Yeah. I've been dead for many years. Many years now. Yeah. You're one of the lucky ones. Yeah, no, I mean... When we were doing the World Cup, we felt that when we were doing stuff. You were really chilled out. Were you overly stressed when you played? Like, you know, when you stepped over that white line, did your emotions get the better of you or were you pretty chilled as well?

18:36No, I wouldn't say that was when I was feeling at my best, when I was crossing into the pitch. Because then, yeah, you know what to do and what you have to do and sometimes you succeed with that, sometimes you don't. But as soon as you're in there, you know the rules, 90 minutes plus, three kicks, penalties, scoring goals, conceding goals, you know the rules. So that's where I always felt the safest, really. I mean, stressed. If you ask my missus now, she's outside, she's looking at this. She feels that now when I'm getting a little bit older, I'm getting a little bit stressed. I want to be on time on the airport.

19:22But I've always been like that. But it's just her paying attention. I think we need to get her in. Do you want to come in and defend yourself? We need to give you the right to defend yourself. Yeah, you can bring her in. I love it. Please come in. I love it. She's quite funny. This episode of Stick to Football is brought to you by Arm Clothing. Can I take you to Celtic? I mean you're an absolute God there and I was obviously when you were coming in before I was telling Gary I don't know if it is your most famous goal at Celtic but it certainly talks about the chip against Rangers I was at that game actually at the 6-2 game and I think it was Martin O 'Neill's first old fame game I think if I've got that right it could be yeah he was I mean talk to me about Celtic I mean it's a huge football club isn't it they always constantly when you look at the comments they say get Enric Larson on Get Henrik Larsson?

20:18Yeah. No, I'm just smiling when you talk about it because for me it's, yeah, it was a happy place. Did you know it was a special club before you went there? No, I didn't have a clue. Right. I was playing in Holland and the only thing you used to see was like the BBC match of the day and you would see Piafanoidon score a goal for Celtic. Other than that, I didn't have a clue. And I'm so thankful I didn't because stopping Rangers that year from winning 10 in a row was so important. And I think that if we would have realized how much it meant for everybody, there would be immense pressure for us.

21:03But Celtic is my club. I mean, it's where I made my name. It's where I became the player that you guys know and a few others know. But that's where I made my name as a player. And getting the opportunity to go there with Wim Jansen, I think he moved from Japan and took Celtic. and I was at Feyenoord at the time and been there for three and a half years and felt that it was time for something else. How old was you at the time? I was 21 when I came to Holland. No, no, I wasn't, sorry. I came 94, so I was 23. But was that a gap? Not the Celtic, but going to the Scottish League from the Dutch League, were you seeing that as a step up?

21:56No, I was just looking at Celtic. At the time, I would say it was a step back. Right. I have to say, because Feyenoord at the time had won the year before I came. They won the league, and then we managed to win two cups. But you had an Ajax team that was so strong, winning the Champions League. And with, I mean, players like Clarvut, van der Sarre in goal, Brothers de Boer. Was it Seedorf? Seedorf, Davids. Yeah. I mean, there was a good team. But I didn't always play at Feyenoord, so I wanted to play a little bit more. I had signed a new deal at Feyenoord, but I had a clause in my contract as well.

22:42I had a clause that, let's see, a certain amount inside Holland and a certain amount outside Holland. And obviously Wim was one of the guys who brought me down to Holland, Feyenoord. But he was only like there for three months. And then he went off to Japan because there was something with the board at Feyenoord. But obviously he had, yeah, he knew my situation in the contract, which maybe he shouldn't have known. But I'm happy to this day that he knew that because that's how I ended up at Celtic. Where was you before Feinor? Feinor, I was playing at Helsingborg, before that Högerborg in the third division.

23:28Back in the days when the third division was the third division. Nowadays, it's a lot lower because it changed the system in Sweden. You were a striker? Yeah, I always loved to play as a striker, but I played as a midfield player. I played central mid. I played left-hand side on the midfield in the 4-4-2. But the last few years at Högerborg, I played the strike, and that's how I got the move to Helsingborg. And, yeah, that went well. You said before Glasgow was one of your favourite cities. Did you settle in straight away as soon as you arrived, or did it take you a little bit of time? It always takes a little bit of time, but everybody was talking about the weather.

24:17But, I mean, it's the same in Helsingborg. Yeah. It rains a lot. Okay, you might not get four seasons in a day, but it rains a lot in Helsingborg as well. And I was here in Manchester as well. It rains a lot here as well. So, for me, that's not the problem. I mean, it's the people you have around you. And yeah, I was me and my wife Magdalena just got our first kid, Jordan, our son. When we moved, I moved straight away and my wife had to take care of everything. And yeah, with the moving houses and everything. And come over to arrange a house, stayed in Botwell in the same house for seven years.

25:05It was fantastic. Great place. A few other players was there. The captain, Tom Boyd. Wim Janssen was there as well. Stefan Maier was there as well. Lubomir Muravchik. Lubomir. Lubomir. Wow. Great player, Lubomir. So, I mean, yeah. It was great. And you played in one of the greatest Celtic teams, obviously. Yeah, we had a few really, really good sides, I have to say. Did you drive a mountain? Any issues with mountain? Oh yeah, I had ones but I would come back to that one later I think No, but I enjoyed Martin Obviously I enjoyed Wim but he stopped after the first year and then we had a you were up there as well when I broke my leg I mean Martin was just playing after the same principles, maybe a few tweaks here and there, but the same principles, like get the ball in the box.

26:11Get the ball in the box. That's music to your ears, doesn't it? Yeah, it is. Finally, yeah, I mean, there's not many crosses coming in in the modern game. No, totally. I used to love the crosses, And if my wingers wouldn't put the ball in, I would scream at them. So, Henry, you didn't really know about Celtic too much, but then when you played the first game, what was that like? My first game, thank you very much. We played away at Hibs. When did you play at home? We played the next game after Hibs. We played them firmly, I think, home. but I think we drew and lost that one as well. We didn't start off very good.

26:59Did you score in your first couple of games or not? No. I don't know when I scored my first in the league. Yeah, I think. Yeah, St. Johnston away. It was a diving header, I think. How many games in was you? Oh, seven. Wow, what was it like? Were they starting to do it? Oh, they died me after the first game, I can tell you. Get him out. They got me in, now I do. We were lucky. I came in as a wide left and I think it was 1-1 or I don't know. But I got the ball and I look up Darren Jackson is coming short. So I want to give him by his spins and goes deep. So I played short to Sikshanli, a hips player, and he advanced.

27:43Boom, scores past Marshi. People weren't too pleased back then. But after the game, I hold my hands up and said, yeah, it was my fault. even though Darren should have yeah that was the next bit you took one for the team did you yeah no you have to what was the best connection you had because obviously you scored so many goals for Celtic yeah but I had I had a lot of connections I mean if I look at strike partner I mean I had Viduka nobody talks about Mark Viduka I had Chris I had John Hartson who else did I have I had Harald Bratbach up there, Simon Donnelly, who I played very well up front with.

28:31Then I had my midfield players like Stylian Petro, Alan Thompson, even Paul Lambert, Jackie McNamara. So it was a lot of connections. Bobby Petter, Reggie Blinker as well. I'm probably going to forget somebody, so sorry, everybody. But I had a lot of connections. But the three you mentioned, so you've got Chris Sutton, John Artzen and Mark Baduuk. Then three, that was perfect for you in respect of you being that striker that can run or be around them. Because they were brilliant. They were great target players, even though I could play target myself as well. They were great because, I mean, you know as well.

29:14I mean, if the ball is coming up high, you've never seen a striker bring it down on his head, have you? No. Then that's a sign you have to go in behind a little bit on the side. If it's coming here, yeah, then you might have to come down side in order to receive the ball. Or you look where the midfield player is, play it back and then you go in behind. But that's common thinking, I think. Yeah, but to some people it is. Some people, some strikers that is. This episode of Stick to Football is brought to you by Arm Clothing. Who influenced your game? Pele. Pele was my idol. I got a videotape of my father when I was about 12, 13 years old.

29:59And I used to watch that one. I watched it when I came home from school instead of doing the homework. Kids, do your homework.

30:10It's important. You have to have a plan B. No, Pelle first and the homework. Yeah, okay, then. As long as you do it. Yeah, of course. So I used to watch that before practice and before games. The way he played was just he could score goals, but he could also assist goals. That's what I liked. Do you think people recognize how good you were in the air? I don't think so, but once they met me, I think they realized. Yeah. Did you play in the testimonial? that was it Giggs' testimonial at Old Trafford yes I was there I didn't score a little bit disappointed with Chris Sutton up front I played centre back and you actually battered us I remember I got subbed at half time in a testimony testimonial it was a week before the start of the season I remember it's still playing on his bike I was the first time I played against to be fair like John Hartson they were a handful I told you to leave earlier to fly to Qatar

31:10how old it take for the Celtic supporters to sort of, how long did it take you to realise how special they were? Yeah but the club, how special and what it means to a lot of people I think I started realising after New Year and more closer to the end of the season as well, how important it was that we really won that league. So I think, yeah, coming March, yeah, you were fully aware how important and what it means. And then, and I travelled the world with Celtic and with Swedish national team and, and you always have Celtic supporters attending. Doesn't matter where you are. Always. Over a hundred caps for Sweden.

31:59That's pretty special. Did that? Yeah. Must have meant the world to you. Oh, yeah. Getting up to 106. I could have had a lot more, but 106, yeah. It's a great number. I'm proud. Doing more than 100 caps for your country. When you're a kid, I think you guys and you as well, Jill, had the dream when you were a young kid. Becoming a professional football player, representing your country, Europeans and World Cup. that was my first dreams as a football player big disappoints with Celtic what was any big what's the huge disappointment you'd have at Celtic yeah whenever we didn't win the league I think and the biggest one you know is the European Cup final against Porto still still tough tough to talk about I think Martin still hasn't got over it No, I don't think anybody really won't ever get over it.

33:09It was so many. I had a lot of friends down there. My father was down there when he was alive.

33:18How many Celtic fans were around that day? They're saying there was somewhere between 50 ,000 and 80 ,000. Wow. And it was a lot of... I'd say it was probably... Because I had one of my best friends walk in the city with my father during the day.

33:36And they only saw green and white there. It was just unbelievable, they said. I think there was 50 Towers and a lawn in our hotel. Yeah. I think it was 250 Towers. That has to be the... Because I think that the fans and us as a team were worth more. Yeah, but there weren't no moggs, were they? Yeah. You mentioned the injury. Was that your sort of low point in your career? It was a bad one, wasn't it? Yeah, when I broke my leg, obviously that in my cruise ship, the jaw was only six weeks. That was, I hadn't been playing for six weeks when we drew against you guys at the year we went. At Celtic Park.

34:20At Celtic Park, yeah. Gaffer called me evening before. At the hotel, are you ready? 10 o 'clock at night, I was almost asleep. Are you ready? Yes, I'm ready, I'm ready. Okay, it will start tomorrow. And I got, yeah, 60 minutes I managed to do that game. But, yeah, obviously I had a cruise yet in Barcelona as well. And there I was really close of just saying, you know what? I'm not going to do this rehab. But having a few bottles of wine with my friends during the night, I said, yeah, I would give it a try. Did you ever fear that you wouldn't play? I remember the pictures of that break. But did you ever fear that you wouldn't play again after that?

35:10Did your studs get caught in the ground? No. No. Tell you a story now that nobody really knows.

35:23I had the wrong shoes on that day. Somebody forgot to pack my shoes for the game. So did you have studs? I had studs. I always played in studs because, I mean, since Martin O 'Neill came in, or the gaffer, as I call him, he said, I don't care which shoes you're playing as long as you don't slip. I said, oh, I'm going to put the studs on. Because, yeah, I always used to play. in studs, but I had a stress fracture already in my left leg. And I asked, can I stand up? Of course. You know, when the line is here behind me, I just want to put my left leg down, let him kick. Yeah, that's right. Since I had a fracture on the left leg already, and then him kicking here, and I'm taking the ball to that side.

36:16Yes. I was boom. Oh. So I felt something. I just felt, finding myself on the grass. From his force of the kick into the back of your leg. Yeah, but it wasn't very hard, though. It was the fracture. It was just the angle. I was just waiting. The angle that caught me. And we tried to treat it before with shockwaves and everything. But it was just... Waiting to happen, maybe. Yeah, it was, really. And I found myself on the grass. when I told the referee in Dutch. I think I broke my leg because it was a Dutch referee and I speak Dutch. And I didn't really feel anything. I mean, until they put me on the stretcher because then Roddy, the doctor, and Brian Scott, the physio, just wanted me because it was close of going out.

37:07Open leg break is not good, but I was a little bit, a few inches away from being open. They just wanted to fix it in place and then I felt. Wow. But then you get your morphine, yeah, then you don't feel anything. And then after the game, I went to the hospital straight away. So I was before all the players on the airplane before we went back. And then I had one night at the hospital and then the surgery, I think the day after, something like that. Would the boot have had anything to do with it? No. No, just no. I mean, it was waiting for happening. Yeah. It was just, I wasn't strong enough because obviously, I don't know how I probably got it through a kick or something like that.

37:56And yeah, didn't really notice it. And yeah, kept on playing. But what I started feeling was when I planted my left foot and shot for shooting, it was hurting a little bit over that. So when you shoot with the other leg, Because you put the pressure on it. Yeah, exactly. Do you feel it? Like the golf swing. Yes. Do you feel it now? No, I don't. Knock on wood. I don't feel anything. Still have the rod in. It's like that. Yeah. Do you get your other boots back? Yeah, I got them six months down the road. You just got to score all them goals. Jesus, the goals. You once said I didn't become a superstar at Barcelona.

38:41I became a superstar at Celtic. And you scored 242 goals in 313 games, which is obscene. Ridiculous. That's ridiculous. Obscene. Thank you. You can have a ride here. Yeah, no worries. Don't drink water. Yeah, no. Yeah, I don't. Yeah, I don't know how many goals I scored. But I know I scored a lot. At Celtic. You know what? I don't think I've got a stat. Say 242 in 313 games. I don't think I ever watched when you played, you didn't score in a game I watched. Never. That's... Never. Obviously, there is a few. Yeah, well, I didn't know. Yeah, no, but I mean... Every game I've watched, he's scored in it.

39:22Yeah, but it's... Yeah, you know yourself rightly. I mean, it's... It was your job, to be fair, isn't it? Yeah, yeah, it was your job. I heard that one before. Come on. But, I mean, you know, the players you have around you, as I mentioned before, with the Lubos, with Zillian, with Thompson, with Chris, John, everybody. I mean, if you get the service and... Yeah. Yeah. You have a chance to score those goals. There's a rumour you could have gone to United in the 90s. Is that true? Yeah, I think so. What happened there? I didn't want to move. From where were you at that time? Thank you. Well done, Rick.

40:01You have to be in a bit more specific. United came in for you while you were at Soek, right? Yeah, they were interested in me. That's what I heard, yes. But I didn't want to move because I came from Holland, didn't play week in, week out. The family started to get settled in Glasgow, Botwell, where we stayed. We were happy. I think it was my second contract, something like that. So I had a good salary. And I mean, we were playing European with Celtic either Europa League or the Champions League. I was playing with Sweden in the Euros. I was playing with Sweden in the World Cups. So I just felt it was...

40:59You're doing everything. I'm happy where we are. And I've seen the other side where when you maybe not... I think the most important thing for a football player is to play. week in week out and now with the system of changing a few players there wouldn't have been anything for me because I like to play 90 minutes week in week out there's maybe a few more games I don't know you guys know that more than I do, I don't know how many games more do they play these days than we did I think there's more in the Champions League now isn't there's an extra round of that. I think if you're a successful team it's always 50 or 60 games a season that's what you'd always had in your head but as you said I never moved but that thing of I always think you always want to play as you just said the thought of me being a squad player I couldn't have handled that being a sub I would have found that tough that's why I left Barcelona in the end because I was a squad player and my kids or Jordan was turning 10 and my daughter was five, Janelle.

42:12She's doing show jumping. Oh, amazing. Lives in Holland. But that's, I mean, I felt still, I mean, I think I was, yeah, 34 to coming up to 35. Still felt that I had a few good years to be able to play instead of sitting on the bench. That's why I went home to Sweden, Helsingborg. You know the move to Barcelona? because obviously you're a legend Celtic we've just seen the stats getting all the goals but there's always that thing it's the Scottish league yeah that's what you English say

42:47that's a good line that's a great line there's a lot of Scottish hate coming your way we played against a few English teams when we played and you beat them oh yeah we were one of them we were one of them we were one of them when you go to Barcelona and then arguably the big you know one of the biggest clubs in the world but then you go there and succeed as well. It almost puts that talk, what you've just said, about people saying it's only Celtic. But you've actually then gone to one of the biggest clubs in the world. You win the Champions League. Do you understand? Is that fair? Yeah, no, but I mean, that's always been.

43:20I mean, I knew I stayed seven years in Scotland with Celtic. But at the same time, I played in the Euros, I played in the World Cup, and I scored there as well. So you weren't measuring yourself about it? For me, it wasn't important. I mean, I played Europa League or you play the Champions League, you play against English opponents, you score against them. So, I mean, yeah. So why leave Celtic when you did, if you were like... Because I felt that I stayed there for seven years. It was time because same time you start. I mean, if you don't score in two games, it's not the same as Larsson anymore.

44:02I actually had a meeting with the gaffer because I decided already in the summer that I would run your contract up exactly I would run the year out but I would tell everybody I told the gaffer and I told he was okay because I said I just want to get out when I'm still ahead and he said yeah that's fair enough and to be fair, I mean, he was always nice to me and always good, but I was good for him as well. Absolutely. It's two ways. Where were we? You just felt that was the time to leave something after seven. Yeah, no, but so I said straight away, I mean, I need to tell, I wanted to get as good as possible.

44:58ending. And the supporters were fine with that. Yeah. Because I told the supporters earlier as well I will not extend my contract. I will go after the season. I tried to do that in order just to get the... Transparent, to be honest. Yeah, to be transparent and so nobody was kept in the dark. Yes. And nobody booed you like Liverpool did. No. Like... He wasn't transparent. but I mean I just wanted to yeah yeah it was just the time the time was right and I I went to the I had a break from the Swedish national team after the 2002 World Cup but 2004 Euros were coming up and I I started to feel like time to go back yeah and my son the reason why I stopped was because Because Jordan said back in the days when he spoke a little bit Scottish, I will try to do it.

46:04Sorry, everybody, for my Scottish accent. Daddy, daddy, why are you always away? That's not bad. Are you going away? Are you going away again? It's not like Rassie Nesbitt. No, but then you feel like going home, traveling, and things were okay with the Swedish national team.

46:31Getting a little bit of hassle from the Swedish media when things weren't going the way they wanted. And then I thought, well, is it worth it? I'm getting a little bit older. I might stay home and go for a little bit of travel when you get a few days off extra. And you can, yeah, let your body... Recuperate. Recuperate again. And be ready for the games.

47:07And I'm losing it now. What I love when they come on, like a lot of the foreigners we've had, they know what they want to do, isn't it? Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's like, you don't want to run me contract? They won't get blown by the wind. Yes. No, but yeah, so I mean, I think we're done with the contract part. But I mean, then the Euros were coming. That's coming back. I'm not seeing that yet.

47:32I didn't want to have anything ready before the Euros. There was a lot of clubs interested, obviously, with the ruling. We can start talking in January already. I just wanted to go with the Swedish national team. I see where it takes me. I was advertising really in the papers that I wanted to move to a little bit warmer country. Maybe some Spain, Portugal or whatever. But I had no dream that Barcelona would come in for me. Maybe a lesser team in the mid-tables or something like that. But then during, we're about to play Holland or Netherlands, what are you allowed to say today, in the quarterfinals, in the Euros.

48:24And my wife calls me, Magdalena, says, Barcelona wants you. I said, I don't have time for that now.

48:36They have to wait for me. And she's like this in the front. they won't wait for you so I told her to go together with my agent she's done all my contracts together with my agent Rob Johnson to go over and do the talks and discuss everything and I come afterwards after Euros which was very important for me and do the medical so I've done that and yeah And obviously my friend Giovanni von Bronckhorst heard that I was coming over. So he already booked a house for me right next to his. It was the old house of Philippe Cuckoo. Right. So I stayed a week in a hotel and then I was at Barcelona. What other clubs came into it for you at that time?

49:30Oh, I don't know. It was a lot of clubs. You have to ask Rob Janssen. I think there would be a good guess. English clubs? I think there was a few, yeah. There was about 28. Yeah, for free. 29 clubs, something like that. Don't make... The goals you scored and everything. Yeah, of course, yeah. I was only coming up to 33 at the time. I was still fit. Yeah. Still fit. To get that many clubs always, like, amazing. Yeah, well, that's when you're scoring goals at that rate. So good. This episode of Stick to Football is brought to you by Arm Clothing. You go to Barcelona, I think... Is Messi 18, 19? Messi's not in the squad my first year.

50:11Your first year, but the second year you were there. Second year when we are in the pre-season in, I think it was Japan. And obviously seeing him on the flight, but never thought more of that. And then I see him in practice and I asked Giovanni, I said, who's that? He's a kid, yeah. That's Messi. He's going to train with us and we see if he's going to belong to the first team squad or not. Could you tell straight away how good he was? No, you couldn't because at the time, people haven't seen Ronaldinho. I was playing with Ronaldinho at the time and at the time I would say he was the player at the time.

50:56He could do anything with the ball but also efficient, I think. I didn't see him being that good. I mean, the technique, the left foot, the speed and everything was there. But for me, it was hard to see anybody surpassing, you say, how do you say it? Surpassing Ronaldinho because you didn't think it was possible. But afterwards, when you see it, it's just crazy. it's just I mean him and Cristiano it's just I mean I came over to Manchester was I think that was correct me if I'm wrong but I think that's around the time where Cristiano stopped doing his 25 step overs and and then doing some but now he was efficient it was an end product it was goals it was an assist or it was something and yeah I think we're just blessed to have had two such great...

52:00Still playing. Still playing. Did you score on your debut for Man United? Yes, I did, against my old gaffer, Martin O 'Neill. Was Ronaldo the best player you ever played with?

52:18Yeah, I mean, yeah, he's up there, but Lubo Murabchik... Honestly, he's so underrated. I still can't tell you. Is he left foot or right foot? Yeah. I don't know. But he could find you. He could find you anywhere. And he could score goals. A lot of people don't know much about him, do they? No, no. But I mean, if... He's an amazing player, huh? He was great. I mean, his technique was just something else. Left foot, right foot, didn't matter. Yes. He could hit it hard, he could caress it. It was just great. You said before you didn't want to come to United, but you eventually did. How did that happen?

53:03That was, I think it was, I moved home 2006 in the summer after the World Cup. And we played the other way around. I mean, finishing in November, Swedish season. And then you have like a month off or two maybe, or I don't know, but you don't start playing again until April. And I'd done the Swedish preseason in the past. And once I got to here, we played our last game for the season in Växjö. that's east of Sweden. And we had an English coach at the time, Stuart Baxter. He was also a national coach for South Africa. A few times he's been down there. And he was friends with the Chief Scout at Manchester United at that time.

54:05I don't know who that was. McRown. Yeah, no, but after the game, I don't know. He was a good friend anyway. Jim Lawler? Yeah, it could have been, yeah. And he said we came back to the stadium afterwards and he said that Manchester want to make a loan deal during the pre-season period. And I said, yeah, well, let me think about it. I have to go home and talk with the missus. But I already decided I'm going. But I came home and I said to Magdalena, I said, Manchester United have reached out to see if I want to come there just for a short spell. Because I moved home. I wanted to play more football, but I moved home, especially for Jordan.

55:00I mean, to have a place to call home. He was born in Holland and, yeah, haven't been home in Sweden more than in the summers. So our daughter was four or five at the time as well. I wanted to have some place. That's why I didn't want to move over to Manchester and live in a house. I just wanted to hotel nice and easy. And missed pre-season as well. And missed pre-season, yeah, because I think at my age, I was 35 at the time. I needed to continue playing instead. and then going into the next season when it started. That's how it came about. And, I mean, it was just a fantastic experience for me coming into that dressing room with you guys.

55:52You weren't there. You missed out. Yeah, I missed out there. I know that. But, I mean, coming in there, I mean, I used to watch you guys playing football a lot on Sky when I was living up in Glasgow. So, I mean, I knew a lot of the players. I played against a few on the international level as well. But it was just the way the club was at the time. I don't know how it is now. The feeling of coming home like friendly. It's a good atmosphere around it. and even though you never invited me for lunch or took me for lunch. Garry! He was the captain of the Premier League. No, there are other players.

56:42It's your business interest. It was Patrice Evra, Louis Saha, Rooney took me for lunch. I knew you were leaving. You weren't a long-term project. He only does long-term investment. He's got money coming back. He has a problem to attach. I did one of the best ever assists for him, by the way. Yeah, and he never stood. And he was ruled offside and he wasn't offside. Against Portman. Oh, my, honestly. against David James. Did you cross the first time? No, no, no. He dinked it. Dinked it over a defender. And I hit it like side volley. Yes. Hit the post and in. Yeah. I mean, we all wanted you to stay.

57:17I know that because the players were obviously saying, please stay. Did the manager speak about staying or did you just have to go back? No, we had the talk with you and Gixi was there as well. Who else was there? Was somebody else? Maybe Scolzi. Yeah, maybe Scolese. We had that chat when the gaffer was there as well. But at the same time, I promised Helsingborg to go home. And they invested a lot of money in me. So I felt it was the right thing. And also plus the fact that the family with Jordan and being there for the kids in the sense I was still playing. I didn't stop until I was 38. that's a good innings 38 really good yeah a little bit too long but I don't regret it I mean I don't wish that I could play football today surely not but I mean at least I decided when it went to stop and I think that's important I don't know when you made this quote but this is a quote that I've got well sorry I do remember when you made yeah 2024 you just said then about I don't want to play football today I thought it was an interesting quote I'm so tired of the game more now than ever it's about money I never cared about money it was about the love of the game I mean you've obviously proven that you turned down going to bigger clubs and staying at Celtic and were happy where you were you say you're unhappy with the game you're tired of the game yeah I don't love the game anymore I don't is it just the way the game is at the moment?

58:51no yes not entertaining what? yeah I think it's I know the football game is always going to change and it's always going to come back to circles and I mean coming back and progressing and everything but I don't like the Is it defensive nature? No defensive, I mean I think it's more cautiousness, I mean the possession based, you know, I mean I love a good possession but I mean to score the goals you need to put them in the danger areas I mean, yeah, that could be wide right in the box and then you do cut back. But I like the good old-fashioned way when you cross, when you had the wingers to go past the players to cross or go past to make something on their own.

59:38That's what I like, but that's my like. And I know there's millions of others' ways to look at football. I'm not saying my way is the right way, but that's the thing. Is that from a striker's point of view, you think? I think so because there's a reason why the goals are on the ends. We have to get there. Maybe because I'm a striker and I see a striker making a run but the ball is not coming. It doesn't need to be in the air all the time just to go for the headers along the ground or whatever is possible. But that's the way I like it. I mean, I like a good possession when you can control it and you can...

1:00:28But when you control it to go... You want a bit more risk? Yeah, a little bit more risk. I would love to... I think that's the thing for strikers. I think that... What's Henrik saying? I totally get it because sometimes you're watching and you say, if I was playing now, I'd need him to pass that then. And it doesn't happen because they'll totally... You always put yourself in the striker's shoes when you're watching a game. Every single time. And then when you're watching a midfield, That's why I say I could play with him or I could play with him because what happens is that you see, oh, he's got to put that through and you don't see it.

1:00:58The ball comes across, but they'll wait, pass it back to the right-back, then they go back across the midfield. So then what happens is there's a strike. I'm thinking to myself, I'm watching now. Frustrating. It's very frustrating. They hardly touch the ball, though, strike. Hardly. You think of Harland? Yeah. They have to stay so central, don't they? They don't get to run the channels. Is it just that, though, Henrik? Is it just that? Because you say you're tired of the game now more than ever about the money, which obviously isn't it. But money, I mean, I earned money on football, but I never, for me, that was never a drive.

1:01:27That was never my... Was it for you, Mida? No, but to be honest, I never cared about it. And then people are going to say, yeah, it's easy for you to say because you have the money. But it's never been my drive. I mean, for me, it's been about football. but I mean football yeah but it's

1:01:53there's a lot of if you're doing management or you're coaching or whatever there's a lot of political games you have to play and I'm not how do you say it? How do you put it nicely? I'm not so good at that I can imagine I say what I see and like it I don't like it. You don't like the coach inside because you were a coach. I was working for eight years, but we better not talk about that. I'd done that bit and I feel that I'm, yeah. But it was a good transition for me, stopping playing at 38, keeping on until, yeah, I was 50, more or less. It was a good transition for me to, yeah, start to realise what do you want to do?

1:02:43and I still don't know. You've mentioned your children. How big... I mean, his big influence, obviously, now is you going watching them. I didn't realise that your daughter was a show jumper, which is incredible. Oh, yeah, she's doing good. She lives down in Holland, in Werd, doing show jumping down there, training, buying horses, need more horses. That's why I'm doing this show. I'm just kidding. I don't think you got paid. What? How old is your daughter? She is born 2002, so that makes her 23. Okay. Almost 24. Right. So I'm so proud of both my kids. I mean, she's really studying at the same time, doing the horses, fantastic.

1:03:43I mean, I'm so proud of her. She's been living outside of Sweden for a number of years now. She's done really well. And our son, Jordan, I mean, he's a professional football player. Plays for FCK Copenhagen now. Scored in the Champions League in penalties. Nice, nice. Go and watch him play when he plays in Copenhagen. It's a nice city, isn't it? Yeah, fantastic. Beautiful city. But seeing your kids, they don't need to succeed in a grand matter. It doesn't matter. But as long as you see your kids happy. Yeah. And if the kids are happy, it's easy for you as a parent to be happy as well. And obviously having the health and everything, which is the most important thing.

1:04:34I mean, that's the only thing you can't buy. Does Jordan ring you up for advice? Not very often. And I think I try to stay out. I don't do anything like with his contracts. But if he asks anything, he knows he will hear my honest answer. Is he a striker as well? Yeah, but now he's playing as a right wing with Copenhagen. I mean, I'm so proud that he's even reached that far as being a professional football player. People don't realise that time. so yeah, he's playing as a striker. He likes to, he asks me about things, what I see, and I give him an answer, and it's not always the answer he wants, but at least I'm honest, and I think that's important.

1:05:25And I think the most important thing is that all the decisions that are being made should be made with him and his management team. so he I mean because I can't tell him you have to do this or you have to do that it has to be his his career he has to be in charge of that so whenever he's he's finished whenever that may be he has to look back and and yeah probably gonna regret a few decisions he made but at least he made them himself I hope Selder go watch them you know I'll be nice what do you think about that one I think that would be a difficult one you'll have to get involved in that one this episode of Stick to Football is brought to you by Arm Clothing Henry we're going to finish with some quick fire questions Henry quick fire this could be difficult you know I'm always thinking a little bit because I'm thinking a little bit ahead Nice one, isn't it?

1:06:35Cool. Thoughtful. Yeah, I'm very thoughtful. Yeah. Right, the three best players you've ever played with. Ooh, three best players. I have to say, yeah, Ronaldinho, obviously. Then I'm going to throw Chris Sutton in there. Wow, good for Chris. I'm going to need a defender there as well. No? Not really. I say, should I pick Xavi and he has the Scholes, Rooney? It's a difficult one. He's a quick-fiery man. Yeah, OK, but I'm thinking and I say Rooney because I like him. OK, the best manager you ever had? Martin O 'Neill. The toughest stadium you ever played in? Toughest stadium I ever played in? Hips.

1:07:24Hips? East the Road. You lost that first game, I take it. I never like to go back there after that. I had a weird feeling. What regret? Regret.

1:07:42You're taking so long. You haven't got no regrets. No, but I mean, you probably regret something, but I don't know. Favorite goal. Favorite goal.

1:07:55Quick answers. Kansas, yeah, that's not going to happen. Favorite goal, 6-2 is nice, but there are others that are, if you remember a goal from 1994, World Cup against Bulgaria. If you don't remember, look it up. And then another one in 2004 against Bulgaria as well, Diving Header. Yeah, I remember that. That was quite nice. Yes. The hardest moment in your life mentally? Going deep, Henrik? Oh, hardest moment. Read the room, Gary. These are questions. Yeah, no, but hardest moment. I mean, obviously I lost my father in May this year. Yeah, I was going to say that. When I met you at the Champions League final and you'd lost him...

1:08:46Yeah, hours before that. Hours before the game, which is incredible. That was tough, even though I knew it was heading towards that. is always tough when you lose a parent so yeah I think I have to go for that Biggest myth about Henrik Larsson? That I'm boring

1:09:16I'm not going to ask the last one that's a great place to finish the show Good timing Thank you. I love you. Really good. Really entertaining.

1:09:32That was fun. I think that's the best ending to the show. Hey, where are you? I forgot to talk about the episode in Lil. Lil? Never talked about that. With me? Yeah. You and the gaffer. I know. What happened with Alan Travis? You've got to tell us now. Is this when you told the managers of F.O.P.? It's the only time I ever told him to fuck off, yeah. Yeah, but you talk back to him. Then you didn't play for three, four weeks? Yeah, I didn't play for three weeks. What was the situation like that? You swore with him. Oh, everybody was like that. So basically what happened was, weirdest situation I've ever seen on a football pitch, there was a decision against them.

1:10:08We scored a goal. Oh, no. Yeah, we scored a goal, and they took the captain for their team, took their team off the pitch, and said, we're not playing. What? So I walked over to their captain and said, OK, come on, get back on. All of a sudden the manager started having a go at me and Carlos Kieros I went what are you going on about we've got to finish the game but they were of the opinion if they walked off for more than four minutes or five minutes they lost the game and I'm like oh fuck let's play the game so he shouted at me and I went fuck off and snapped anyway I saw his face and obviously I go back over to right I thought he's not letting that go because to be fair if you told him to fuck off that was it you were done for a couple of years I'd seen I'd seen Ginksy do it in Juventus I'd seen Paul Inge do it in Barcelona I'd seen all of us at one point Scholes had done it at Arsenal I think or Liverpool all of us had done it at one point oh not all I don't remember you doing it but I just did you ever swear to him go?

1:11:06no I don't remember but if he said that to him you were done so basically he then took me with the team for the next two or three weeks and just didn't play me at all didn't bring me on didn't play me then brought me back from Liverpool away two or three weeks later nice did you learn the lessons? oh no He was absolutely sending a message to everybody. Do you not want to terminate your contract? No, he just... Oh, here we go. Honestly. Politics. Henrik just pulled the pin out of the grenade. No, he's brought it. No, I had to come to the academy, look after them, because, you know, it's solid. I never told you.

1:11:39I had one with O 'Neill. Right. Yeah, tell us what happened with Merritt. Right. And I had a mare first half, really. I couldn't keep hold of the ball. It was just bouncing. It didn't matter what I did. He wouldn't like that, would he? And I said, just fucking get all of the ball. All of the ball. And I said, I don't need you to fucking tell me what to do. And then we started like, and then Robert was in there. But we calmed down. It was nothing there. And then I got the ball in the second half. I smashed it in. Goal. And then it was solved. Was he okay? Yeah, but he never did. He's not going to hold that.

1:12:19No, he's not going to hold it again. But he couldn't leave you out for two or three weeks. He'd have a right back, you know what I mean? He was going goals. Have you done it, H? You're all the power in it. Right. Brilliant. Well, you're definitely not boring. That's what I've been saying for 20 years as well, Jill. Thank you. Thank you. Well done, everyone. Thank you. Well done, everyone. Thanks for coming. It was quite relaxing, actually. So, Jill, you've brought such a piece, such a piece. Hemric, it was so peaceful It was beautiful It's nice and easy, you don't need more than that No, so nice

1:13:12Thanks for listening and thanks to our partners Arm Clothing subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and you won't miss an episode