We didn’t know what to expect when Henrik Larsson joined the Hoops…now we don’t what we’d have done without him.
HENRIK LARSSON arrived at Celtic Park in July 1997 from Feyenoord. Celtic’s new manager, Dutchman Wim Jansen had signed the dreadlocked Swede for £650,000, a sum that came to be seen as ludicrously low as Larsson rewarded his new club with an abundance of goals.
The two parties - Celtic and Larsson - came together that summer after a period of respective turmoil. The striker had endured an unhappy time in Holland, culminating in a legal fight to enable him to leave Feyenoord for Glasgow.
Celtic, meanwhile, had been unable to prevent Rangers from winning the league the previous season, a situation bad enough if had not been for the fact that it meant Rangers had now equalled nine-in-a-row.
Wim Jansen arrived in the close season as manager with one set objective - to stop the 10.
As well as Larsson, Craig Burley, Mark Rieper and Regi Blinker all arrived at Celtic Park as the Dutchman sought to quickly assemble a winning team.
Things couldn’t have started any worse for Celtic or Henrik Larsson in the league campaign, however.
This story is from the Vol 53 Issue 42 edition of Celtic View.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Vol 53 Issue 42 edition of Celtic View.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED...
Jodie Bartle was delighted to score her first goal for Celtic, a week after her derby strike was controversially disallowed
TOMMY BHOY
Celtic legend was a supporter first, last and always
WOUNDED PRIDE
Christopher Jullien was a frustrated spectator as he recovered from injury, but now that he’s back, he’s determined to play his part along with his team-mates to get back to winning ways
ON THIS DAY
HISTORY OF PLAYERS
KEEP THE FAITH
Manager knows hard work can and will deliver an upturn in fortunes for his Celtic side
THE LAST WORD
NEXT week the Christmas edition of the Celtic View will be out, which means this will be the last column I write in 2020.
FOUNDATION CHRISTMAS APPEAL SPOTLIGHT: THE INVISIBLES
WE continue our spotlight series on the organisations we hope to support through this year’s Celtic FC Foundation Christmas Appeal, with a closer look at the work of The Invisibles, a Glasgow-based voluntary organisation, which aims to provide comfort to those living on the city’s streets.
LIVING THE DREAM
Danny Crainie was proud to wear the Hoops and he continues to back the team as a supporter
EVERYONE IS HURTING AT THE RUN WE'RE ON
IT was a disconsolate home dressing room at Celtic on Sunday, as the team reflected on their first domestic cup defeat in over four years.
9 from NINE
The View wants YOUR views on the Hoops’ remarkable decade of dominance
