PRELUDE TO PARADISE
Henrik Larsson began his football career in 1988 at the age of 17 when he signed for Swedish team Hogaborg BK. After four years there, he then moved to Helsingborgs, where he displayed his talent, scoring 50 goals in 56 appearances. It was an impressive return in just over a year and it wasn't long before Dutch club Feyenoord came calling and he moved to Holland in 1993. It took him a while to settle into his new environment, though his scoring record continued to rise over the course of the next four years. However, in 1997 he indicated to the club that he wanted to leave. Celtic, now managed by Wim Jansen, who had been technical director at Feyenoord when they signed the player, moved to buy him and after a protracted legal wrangle, he moved to Paradise in July 1997 for what would prove to be a bargain fee of £650,000.

DEBUT BHOY
Henrik’s Celtic debut is well-known for being less than auspicious. Coming on as a substitute against Hibernian at Easter Road, he inadvertently gave possession away, allowing Chic Charnley to score what would prove to be the winner. However, it was to be one of the few ‘mistakes’ the Swedish striker would make over the next seven years. He scored his first goal for the club in the very next match – a 7-0 win over Berwick Rangers in the League Cup, and in that first season he would end up with 19 goals and two winner’s medals. He scored one of the goals in the 3-0 League Cup final victory over Dundee United while, more importantly, he helped Celtic win their first league title in a decade in ‘stopping the 10’. His goal against St Johnstone on the final day of the season settled nerves (a little!) at Celtic Park, before Harald Brattbakk’s second-half strike sealed the win and the title.

HIGHLIGHTS
The list of Henrik's achievements at Celtic could go on forever. He won four SPL titles, two League Cups, two Scottish Cups, and he was the top goal-scorer in the Scottish Premier League in five out of six seasons. In season 2000/01, Martin O'Neill’s first in charge at Celtic, Henrik had one of his most successful seasons at the club. He scored an incredible 35 league goals in 38 league matches, with an overall total of 53 goals in the season, helping Celtic win the treble. On a personal level, he also won the European Golden Shoe as the continent’s top scorer. Celtic began to dominate Scottish football and re-establish themselves as a European force and, not surprisingly, their Super Swede was at the heart of the success. His goals on the Road To Seville were absolutely vital, which he produced a stunning performance in the 2003 UEFA Cup final, scoring two goals. Overall, Henrik would make 315 appearances for the Hoops, scoring an incredible 242 goals.

LOW POINTS
There weren’t too many lows over the seven years. While the 2002/03 UEFA Cup campaign was a great highlight, the final itself was heartbreaking for Henrik and his team-mates as they lost 3-2 after extra-time to Jose Mourinho’s Porto side. Henrik scored two goals that night in Seville, and deserved so much more than a runner's-up medal. Back in October 1999, he had suffered a serious injury, breaking his leg in a UEFA Cup tie against Lyon. It was a major blow to Celtic and the player missed the rest of the season, only coming on as a substitute in the final game of the season at home to Dundee United. However, he came back even stronger and better the following season as the Hoops won the treble.

It was 23 years ago today ... Henrik joined the Hoops