Ex-Celtic manager Martin O’Neill recently appeared on the BBC’s ‘Sportsound Podcast’ where he discussed what he believes was Henrik Larsson’s greatest performance under him at Celtic.
After joining Celtic in July 1997, Larsson went on to score 242 goals in 315 appearances for the Hoops becoming the club’s third-highest goalscorer of all time during his tenure at Parkhead.
O’Neill was Larsson’s manager at Celtic from June 2001 until the Swedish striker left the club to join Barcelona in July 2004 and during a recent appearance on the BBC’s Sportsound Podcast, O’Neill was full of praise for Larsson when he revealed what he believes was the 48-year-old’s greatest performance under him in Celtic colours.
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When asked about Celtic’s 2003 UEFA Cup Final loss to Porto, O’Neill said: “You talk about Henrik’s performance, of the many great games that I worked with him over four years out of the five that I was up there, this was undoubtedly his greatest and to play in that manner in the final, to score the goals, and you mentioned a word there, but sometimes it’s overlooked, how graceful Henrik Larsson was as a footballer.”
O’Neill goes on to share further praise for Larsson, stating that: “Not only was he as brave as a lion, not only was he a terrific footballer and a goal-getter, but he was so graceful as well, absolutely.”
He went on to share his joy at having seen Larsson go on to win the UEFA Champions League with Barcelona, stating: “Nobody deserved it more, but his performance in the UEFA Cup final for us was majestic.”
Was this Henrik Larsson's greatest ever Celtic performance?YES, I THINK SO
NO, I DON'T THINK SO
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TIF Thoughts…
Celtic suffered a 3-2 loss in the 2003 UEFA Cup Final versus Porto, however, this match report explains that the Hoops “twice fought back from behind” in that fixture, with Larsson scoring an equalising goal on two occasions.
With that in mind, it may be fair to say that the Swede twice gave Celtic and their fans some hope of staging a comeback in that final and it may be understandable why O’Neill has fond memories of his performance in that game.