Paolo Di Canio on Henrik Larsson and his big Celtic regret

In partnership with

The Celtic Star

·10 April 2025

Paolo Di Canio on Henrik Larsson and his big Celtic regret

Former Celtic maverick Paulo Di Canio has been speaking about his biggest Celtic regret. The Italian, who Tommy Burns described as “the most passionate footballer I’ve ever come across,” arrived at Celtic in a £1m transfer fee from AC Milan in the summer of 1996…

Paolo Di Canio scores against Motherwell on 4th January 1997. Photo The Celtic Wiki

He remained at Celtic for just one season and played in that wonderfully attacking Celtic side alongside the likes of Dutch striker Pierre Van Hoijdonk, German international Andreas Thom and Portugal’s Jorge Cadete. Together with Pierre and Jorge, the three were mockingly labelled as the ‘Three Amigos‘ by chairman Fergus McCann.

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The gifted but highly temperamental Italian

The Celtic Wiki says this about Di Canio: The arrival of the gifted but highly temperamental Italian not only provided Celtic with an abundance of riches in attack but sent out a clear signal of how Tommy Burns wanted his rebuilt Celtic to play. The fans were licking their lips in anticipation.

26/12/96 BELL’S PREMIER DIVISION ABERDEEN V CELTIC (1-2) PITTODRIE – ABERDEENPaolo Di Canio (left) is congratulated after firing Celtic ahead. Photo The Celtic Wiki

‘In some ways the supporters were not to be disappointed. Celtic were sensational at times that season and in pure football terms could look streets ahead of any of their domestic rivals. But while their attacking forays were often a joy to watch the team was all too frequently undone by a defence too prone to making elementary and costly mistakes.

For his part Di Canio was a sensation

‘For his part Di Canio was a sensation. An outrageously gifted player, the skilful Italian rapidly became the darling of the fans. His flair was coupled with a real cutting edge which meant that more often than not his audacious ability not only entertained but produced that vital end product.’

Pierre van Hooijdonk, (back) Paolo Di Canio (7) celebrate with Jorge Cadete after scoring for Celtic

Now in an exclusive interview with FootItalia.com Paulo Di Canio reflects on the ‘what if’ regarding the chance to have played with Henrik Larsson if he’d stayed on at Celtic in 1997.

“I Wish I Could Have Partnered ‘Incredible’ Henrik Larsson At Celtic,” Paulo Di Canio

When Paulo Di Canio left Celtic, he was replaced with Swedish superstar Henrik Larsson, but the Italian wishes he got the chance to partner the new signing who would go on to become The King of Kings at Celtic. Imagine those two in the Hoops together!

While most of the interview covers his time in English football after leaving Celtic, Footitalia.com did ask this Celtic related question and passed the quotes onto The Celtic Star this evening.

9 May 1998: Henrik Larsson of Celtic celebrates after a Scottish Premier League match against St Johnstone at Celtic Park in Glasgow, Scotland. Celtic won the match 2-0 to become the league champions. Mandatory Credit: Shaun Botterill/Allsport

Q: Henrik Larsson arrived at Celtic just after you left the club. Do you ever wonder what you could’ve achieved if you had played together?

Paulo Di Canio: “He came because I left. We were in similar positions. Celtic were lucky because he was an amazing footballer. It was a good change. That’s life, it happens. It was our destiny in some way. One door closes, a big gate opens. This is my mentality. He’s a footballer who would’ve been fantastic to play with because he was an incredible, high quality player. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen. I was happy to know that Celtic remained in good hands.”

Paolo Di Canio with his golden boots. Photo The Celtic Wiki

The full interview with Paulo Di Canio can be read HERE.

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