Not a dry eye as Henrik Larsson waved goodbye to Paradise

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The Celtic Star

·16 Mei 2025

Not a dry eye as Henrik Larsson waved goodbye to Paradise

Not a dry eye inside Celtic Park 21 years ago today as the King of Kings waved goodbye after seven magnificent years playing for Celtic…

Henrik Larsson – End of an Era, Celtic v Dundee United, 16 May 2004, Henrik Larsson is tearful as he brings down the curtain on his competitive Celtic career at Paradise. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Henrik Larsson – End of an Era, Celtic v Dundee United, 16 May 2004, Henrik Larsson pauses for a moment of tearful reflection as he brings down the curtain on his competitive Celtic career at Paradise. Photo The Celtic Wiki

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It was 21 years ago today, how time flies, was an emotional day at Celtic Park as we tearfully said farewell to Henrik Larsson who made his last competitive appearance in a Celtic jersey at Celtic Park, and of course he was the hero scoring a brace in a 2-1 win over Dundee United.

Even Henrik couldn’t contain his emotions as the reality dawned on him

The King of Kings was one of the most unemotional and ice cool customers in front of goal but even he couldn’t contain his emotions as the reality dawned on him that his days as a Celtic player were coming to an end.

We of course still got to see him in the coming weeks as he was influential in our Scottish Cup final win over Dunfermline that clinched us the double, and of course his final farewell in a friendly against Seville in Paradise, but this was the moment when it hit everyone including Henrik himself that he would no longer be a Celtic player when the season was over.

That reality hit him hard and deeply effected everyone knowing that we would be waving goodbye to a man who had been our idol and icon for the past seven years, and there quite literally wasn’t a dry eye in the house. We had two more chances to watch Celtic’s greatest player since the Lisbon Lions and of course he’d be centre stage in those games.

There were more tears to be shed before it was all over

There were more tears to be shed before it was all over and the King of Kings was gone, signing for Barcelona and helping to win them the Champions League. He also had a short but highly successful spell at Manchester United before calling it a day but it was at Celtic where he was the King of Kings and where he’ll remain a legend long after we’re all gone.

27 August 2000: Henrik Larsson celebrates during the Scottish Premier League match against Rangers at Celtic Park. Celtic won the game 6 – 2. Photo: Stu Forster /Allsport

Celtic’s elite legends

People will talk about Jimmy Quinn and Jimmy McGrory, John Thomson, Patsy Gallacher and Charlie Tully and the Lisbon Lions – every single one of them including the likes of John Fallon, John Hughes, Charlie Gallagher and Joe Bride and they’ll always talk about Henrik Larsson, Celtic’s King of Kings.

Henrik Larsson – End of an Era, Celtic v Dundee United, 16 May 2004, A supporter’s banner as Henrik Larsson brings down the curtain on his competitive Celtic career at Paradise. Photo The Celtic Wiki

That £650,000 spend bringing Henrik to Paradise was the best money we’ve ever spent.

Oh and don’t forget Jamesy Forrest, he’ll be up there with our greatest ever Celtic players too.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

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