Henrik Larsson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Henrik Larsson

Larsson in 2014
Personal information
Full name	Edward Henrik Larsson
Date of birth	(1971-09-20) 20 September 1971 (age 53)
Place of birth	Helsingborg, Sweden
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Striker
Youth career
1977–1988	Högaborgs BK
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1989–1991	Högaborgs BK	64	(23)
1992–1993	Helsingborgs IF	56	(51)
1993–1997	Feyenoord	101	(26)
1997–2004	Celtic	221	(174)
2004–2006	Barcelona	40	(13)
2006–2009	Helsingborgs IF	84	(38)
2007	→ Manchester United (loan)	7	(1)
2012	Råå IF	1	(0)
2013	Högaborgs BK	1	(0)
Total		575	(325)
International career
1992–1993	Sweden U21	12	(4)
1997	Sweden B	1	(0)
1993–2009	Sweden	106	(37)
Managerial career
2010–2012	Landskrona BoIS
2014	Falkenbergs FF
2015–2016	Helsingborgs IF
2019	Helsingborgs IF
Medal record Men's football Representing  Sweden FIFA World Cup Third 1994 United States
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Edward Henrik Larsson is a famous Swedish football coach and former player. He was born on September 20, 1971. Henrik was an amazing striker who played for many top clubs like Celtic, Barcelona, and Manchester United. He also played many times for the Swedish national team.

Henrik started his career at a smaller club called Högaborgs BK. Later, he moved to Helsingborgs IF and helped them get promoted to the top Swedish league. He then played for Feyenoord in the Netherlands, winning two KNVB Cups. His most successful time was at Celtic, where he became a legend. After that, he joined Barcelona and won the Spanish league title twice and the Champions League. He even had a short loan spell at Manchester United, where he won the English Premier League.

Larsson is known as one of the best foreign players to ever play in Scottish football. He helped Celtic win their first league title in ten years. He also won a bronze medal with Sweden at the 1994 FIFA World Cup. He scored 37 goals in 106 matches for his country. After retiring as a player, Henrik became a football manager for several clubs, including his hometown team Helsingborg.

Early Life and Football Dreams

Henrik Larsson was born in Helsingborg, Sweden. His father was from Cape Verde and his mother was Swedish. His parents decided he should use his mother's last name to make things easier for him in Sweden. Henrik's father gave him a football when he was very young, and that's how his love for the game began. He used to practice with his brothers and friends on a big field near his home.

Henrik watched English football on TV and was inspired by the famous player Pelé. He said that during his school years, he sometimes faced racism because it was unusual to have a dark-skinned child at school back then.

Club Career Highlights

Starting Out in Sweden

Henrik started playing football at age six for a small club called Högaborgs BK. This club was known for teaching young players well. He began his professional career with their senior team at age 17 while still in school. After school, he worked as a fruit packer while playing semi-professionally.

In four years at Högaborg, he scored 23 goals in 74 games. In 1992, Helsingborgs IF, the main club in his hometown, signed him. In his first year as a full-time professional, Henrik scored 34 goals for Helsingborg. He helped the team get promoted to the top Swedish league, the Allsvenskan, after 24 years in lower divisions. The next year, he scored 16 goals, helping Helsingborg finish well in the league.

Moving to the Netherlands: Feyenoord

In November 1993, Henrik joined the Dutch team Feyenoord. It took him some time to get used to living and playing in a new country. In his first season, he scored 6 goals in 27 games. His goal-scoring improved later, but he sometimes felt frustrated because coaches kept changing, and he was played in different positions.

Henrik won his first major trophy with Feyenoord in May 1994, when they won the KNVB Cup. He won the same cup again the next season. He even scored three goals in one game against Werder Bremen in a European competition. In 1997, Henrik decided he wanted to leave Feyenoord. After a legal disagreement about his contract, he won the right to leave and signed with Celtic in Scotland.

Becoming a Legend at Celtic

Henrik joined Celtic in July 1997. In his first game, he accidentally passed the ball to an opponent, who scored, and Celtic lost. But he quickly became a key player. He scored 19 goals in his first season and helped Celtic win the Scottish League Cup and their first league title in ten years. This stopped their rivals, Rangers, from winning nine titles in a row.

In his second season, Henrik scored 38 goals, making him the top scorer in Scotland. He was named the best player in Scotland by both players and writers. He also won the Swedish Footballer of the Year award.

Injury and Comeback

In October 1999, Henrik suffered a very serious leg injury during a European game. Many people thought his career might be over, but he worked hard to recover. He returned to play eight months later.

Amazing Success with Martin O'Neill

When Martin O'Neill became Celtic's manager in 2000, Henrik had his most successful season. He scored 35 league goals and won the European Golden Shoe as the top scorer in Europe. Celtic won three trophies that season: the Scottish League Cup, the Scottish Cup, and the league title. Henrik scored a hat-trick in the League Cup final and two goals in the Scottish Cup final. He scored 53 goals in all competitions that season!

The next season, Celtic won the league again. Henrik also scored his first UEFA Champions League goal. In the 2002–03 season, Celtic reached the UEFA Cup final in Spain. Henrik scored two amazing headers in the final, but Celtic lost 3–2 in extra time. He said this defeat was the worst moment of his career. Despite the loss, he was named the Greatest Swedish Footballer of the Last 50 Years.

Final Season at Celtic

In his last season at Celtic (2003–04), Henrik helped the team win the Scottish Premier League and the Scottish Cup. He broke the record for most European goals scored by a player for a British club. He scored his final goals for Celtic in the Scottish Cup final, helping them win the trophy.

In total, Henrik scored 242 goals in 313 matches for Celtic. Fans called him The King of Kings because of his incredible performances.

Moving to Barcelona

After leaving Celtic, Henrik joined Barcelona in Spain in 2004. In his first season, he suffered another serious knee injury, which kept him out for a long time. Even with the injury, Barcelona extended his contract.

In December 2005, Henrik announced he would leave Barcelona to return to Sweden. His teammate Ronaldinho said, "Henrik was my idol and now that I am playing next to him it is fantastic."

In Henrik's last game for Barcelona, the 2006 UEFA Champions League Final, he came on as a substitute and changed the game. He assisted both of Barcelona's goals in their 2–1 win over Arsenal, helping them win the Champions League! Thierry Henry from Arsenal praised Henrik, saying he was the "proper footballer who made the difference."

Back Home to Helsingborg

After the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Henrik returned to his former club, Helsingborg. He helped them win the Swedish Cup in November 2006. His goals also helped the team finish fourth in the league.

Short Loan to Manchester United

In early 2007, Henrik joined Manchester United on a short loan. He scored on his debut in the FA Cup. He also scored his first Premier League goal. Manchester United wanted him to stay longer, but Henrik had promised his family and Helsingborg that he would return. Manager Alex Ferguson praised him, saying, "He's been fantastic for us, his professionalism, his attitude, everything he's done has been excellent." Manchester United won the Premier League that season, but Henrik didn't play enough games to get a winner's medal.

Final Years as a Player

After leaving Manchester United, Henrik continued playing for Helsingborg. He helped them in European competitions, scoring many goals. In July 2009, he broke his knee-cap, which many thought would end his career. But he returned to play in September 2009.

On October 20, 2009, Henrik announced he would retire from playing at the end of the season. He played his final game for Helsingborg on October 28, 2009, and received a standing ovation from the fans.

Playing After Retirement

Even after officially retiring, Henrik played a few more times. In 2010, he played in a charity football match. He had promised to play one season for his first club, Högaborg. In 2012, he played one game for a Swedish fifth-division team called Råå IF. In 2013, he played for Högaborg again, even playing alongside his son, Jordan Larsson. He also played in some charity matches for Celtic.

International Career

Henrik Larsson scored 37 goals in 106 matches for the Sweden national team. He scored his first international goal in his very first game in October 1993.

1994 FIFA World Cup

Henrik was chosen for Sweden's squad for the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States. He came on as a substitute in the first game and helped Sweden get a draw. He scored his first World Cup goal in the third-place match against Bulgaria, helping Sweden win 4–0 and secure a bronze medal. This was Sweden's best World Cup result since 1958.

Euro 2000

Sweden qualified for UEFA Euro 2000, with Henrik scoring three goals in the qualifying games. He played in the tournament even though he had just recovered from his broken leg. Sweden didn't go far in the tournament, but Henrik scored a goal against Italy.

2002 FIFA World Cup

Two years later, Sweden played in the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Henrik helped Sweden get out of a tough group by scoring two goals against Nigeria. He scored again in the next round against Senegal, but Sweden lost and were knocked out. After this World Cup, Henrik decided to retire from international football for the first time.

Euro 2004 Comeback

Many people in Sweden wanted Henrik to return for UEFA Euro 2004. He eventually agreed and came back to the national team. Playing alongside Zlatan Ibrahimović, Henrik scored three goals in four matches. His amazing diving header against Bulgaria was voted the best goal of the tournament. Sweden reached the quarter-finals but lost to the Netherlands in a penalty shootout.

2006 FIFA World Cup

Henrik also played in the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. He scored a late goal against England to help Sweden draw 2–2 and qualify for the next round. In the next game against hosts Germany, Henrik missed a penalty, and Sweden lost 2–0. He retired from international football for the second time after this tournament.

Euro 2008 and Final Retirement

In 2008, Sweden's coach convinced Henrik to come out of international retirement one more time for UEFA Euro 2008. He played in the tournament but couldn't help Sweden get past the group stage.

In August 2008, Henrik became the new captain of the Swedish national team. He played his 100th game for Sweden in September 2008. On October 11, 2009, after Sweden failed to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Henrik decided to retire from the national team for good. He was 38 years old, making him the oldest outfield player in Sweden's history at that time.

Managerial Career

Henrik Larsson always wanted to become a coach after his playing career.

Landskrona BoIS

In December 2009, Henrik became the manager of Landskrona BoIS, a Swedish second-division club. In his first season, the team played well and finished in fifth place. He stayed for three seasons, and while the team improved, they didn't manage to get promoted to the top league.

Falkenberg and Helsingborg

In December 2013, Henrik became the manager of Falkenberg, a newly promoted club. He helped them stay in the top league. After that, he was appointed manager of his former club, Helsingborg, in 2015. In November 2016, Helsingborg was relegated to a lower league. After this, Henrik decided to leave the club.

Later Coaching Roles

Henrik later joined Ängelholms FF as an assistant coach in 2018, but they were relegated. In June 2019, he returned to Helsingborg as manager, but he left again in August 2019 after facing criticism on social media.

In August 2020, Henrik joined FC Barcelona as an assistant coach to Ronald Koeman. He stayed until October 2021 when Koeman was relieved of his duties.

Playing Style

Henrik Larsson was a very complete striker. He was known for his speed, his ability to score goals, and his calm approach on the field. He was smart about how he moved, finding spaces in the defense and making good runs into the penalty area. Even though he wasn't super tall, he was strong and excellent at heading the ball. He also had great technical skills and could pass the ball well, helping his teammates score. Henrik was a powerful and accurate finisher with both feet and his head. He was also good at taking free kicks and penalties. Besides his football skills, he was known for his discipline and hard work throughout his career.

Personal Life

Henrik Larsson married Magdalena Spjuth in 1996. They have a son, Jordan Larsson, who is also a professional footballer and has played for Sweden. They also have a daughter, Janelle, who is a talented show jumper.

In 2009, Henrik's younger brother, Robert, passed away. Henrik also has an older half-brother named Kim.

Career Statistics

Club

International

Scores and results list Sweden's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Larsson goal

List of international goals scored by Henrik Larsson

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	13 October 1993	Råsunda, Stockholm, Sweden	Finland	2–1	3–2	1994 FIFA World Cup qualifier
2	20 February 1994	Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, United States	United States	1–1	3–1	Joe Robbie Cup
3	20 April 1994	Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, United Kingdom	Wales	1–0	2–0	Friendly
4	5 May 1994	Råsunda, Stockholm, Sweden	Nigeria	2–0	3–1	Friendly
5	16 July 1994	Rose Bowl, Pasadena, United States	Bulgaria	3–0	4–0	1994 FIFA World Cup
6	17 August 1994	Råsunda, Stockholm, Sweden	Lithuania	4–2	4–2	Friendly
7	1 June 1996	Råsunda, Stockholm, Sweden	Belarus	5–1	5–1	1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier
8	14 October 1998	Neftochimik Stadium, Burgas, Bulgaria	Bulgaria	1–0	1–0	UEFA Euro 2000 qualifier
9	27 March 1999	Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden	Luxembourg	2–0	2–0	UEFA Euro 2000 qualifier
10	9 October 1999	Råsunda, Stockholm, Sweden	Poland	2–0	2–0	UEFA Euro 2000 qualifier
11	19 June 2000	Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands	Italy	1–1	1–2	UEFA Euro 2000
12	7 October 2000	Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden	Turkey	1–0	1–1	2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier
13	28 February 2001	Ta' Qali National Stadium, Ta'Qali, Malta	Malta	2–0	3–0	Friendly
14	6 June 2001	Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden	Moldova	1–0	6–0	2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier
15				2–0
16				3–0
17				6–0
18	15 August 2001	Råsunda, Stockholm, Sweden	South Africa	1–0	3–0	Friendly
19	1 September 2001	City Stadium, Skopje, Macedonia	Macedonia	1–0	2–1	2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier
20	5 September 2001	Ali Sami Yen Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey	Turkey	1–1	2–1	2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier
21	7 October 2001	Råsunda, Stockholm, Sweden	Azerbaijan	2–0	3–0	2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier
22	7 June 2002	Kobe Wing Stadium, Kobe, Japan	Nigeria	1–1	2–1	2002 FIFA World Cup
23				2–1
24	16 June 2002	Ōita Stadium, Ōita, Japan	Senegal	1–0	1–2	2002 FIFA World Cup
25	5 June 2004	Råsunda, Stockholm, Sweden	Poland	1–0	3–1	Friendly
26	14 June 2004	Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal	Bulgaria	2–0	5–0	UEFA Euro 2004
27				3–0
28	22 June 2004	Estádio do Bessa Século XXI, Porto, Portugal	Denmark	1–1	2–2	UEFA Euro 2004
29	4 September 2004	Ta' Qali National Stadium, Ta'Qali, Malta	Malta	7–0	7–0	2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier
30	9 October 2004	Råsunda, Stockholm, Sweden	Hungary	2–0	3–0	2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier
31	13 October 2004	Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland	Iceland	1–0	4–1	2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier
32				3–0
33	17 August 2005	Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden	Czech Republic	1–0	2–1	Friendly
34	12 October 2005	Råsunda, Stockholm, Sweden	Iceland	2–1	3–1	2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier
35	2 June 2006	Råsunda, Stockholm, Sweden	Chile	1–0	1–1	Friendly
36	20 June 2006	RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Germany	England	2–2	2–2	2006 FIFA World Cup
37	20 August 2008	Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden	France	1–0	2–3	Friendly

Managerial statistics

Honours and Awards

Henrik Larsson won many trophies and awards during his career:

Feyenoord

• KNVB Cup: 1993–94, 1994–95

Celtic

• Scottish Premier League: 1997–98, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2003–04
• Scottish Cup: 2000–01, 2003–04
• Scottish League Cup: 1997–98, 2000–01
• UEFA Cup runner-up: 2002–03

Barcelona

• La Liga: 2004–05, 2005–06
• Supercopa de España: 2005
• UEFA Champions League: 2005–06

Helsingborg

• Svenska Cupen: 2006
• Promotion to Division 1 Södra: 1992

Manchester United

• Premier League: 2006–07

Sweden

• FIFA World Cup third place: 1994

Individual Awards

Statue of Larsson in his hometown Helsingborg

• Guldbollen (Swedish Footballer of the Year): 1998, 2004
• Scottish Premier League Golden Boot (Top Scorer): 1998–99, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04
• SFWA Footballer of the Year: 1999, 2001
• SPFA Players' Player of the Year: 1999, 2001
• European Golden Boot: 2001
• UEFA Euro 2004: Team of the Tournament
• UEFA Euro 2004: Goal of the Tournament (for his diving header against Bulgaria)
• UEFA Golden Player: Greatest Swedish Footballer of the last 50 Years (2003)
• Honorary Doctor from the University of Strathclyde: 2005
• Honorary MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire): 2006

Images for kids

• 

  Larsson at the schoolyard of Magnus Stenbocksskolan in Helsingborg, June 1993

• 

  Larsson warming up for Barcelona in 2005

• 

  Larsson playing for Barcelona against Deportivo in 2006

• 

  Larsson as manager of Falkenberg in 2014

• 

  Larsson before a testimonial match for John Kennedy in 2011

• 

  Larsson with Sweden at the 2006 FIFA World Cup

• 

  Larsson and his teammates being greeted by Swedish fans in Stockholm after the 1994 FIFA World Cup

• 

  Larsson taking a free kick for Sweden against the Netherlands at Euro 2004

• 

  Larsson with his wife Magdalena at the Swedish Sports Awards in 2014

See also

In Spanish: Henrik Larsson para niños