Henrik Larsson ended his playing career at elite level after the 2009 season – when he represented Helsingborgs IF.
After that, the 52-year-old has worked as a coach – including as head coach for Helsingborgs IF, Landskrona BoIS and Falkenbergs FF.
After seven successful years at Celtic, it was clear in the summer of 2004 that he would leave the Scottish club – and he now tells us that there was no lack of offers.
– I had about 30 offers after I announced I was leaving Celtic. It was from Spain, Italy, Germany, France and something from the United Arab Emirates, he tells The Guardian.
One of the interested clubs was the Spanish giant Barcelona – and that’s where the choice finally landed for Larsson.
– I received a call from my wife, Magdalena, that Barcelona were interested. I was in my bubble, because I was playing the EC with Sweden. I said ‘say I want to wait’, because I didn’t want it to interfere with my preparations, he says and continues:
– She laughed and said “I don’t think they will wait”. So she went over to Spain immediately with my agent and handled the negotiations.
After the head coaching roles in Sweden, Larsson has also worked as an assistant coach to Ronald Koeman in Barcelona.
The coaching stint in the Spanish giants finally made the former striker tired of football.
– I am so tired of the sport. I felt it when I was a coach at Barcelona, but I wanted to try one more time. The demands are so high, he says and continues:
It was about playing football.
– It was terrible, the way Koeman got fired, the way we got fired. I am so tired of the sport because it is more than ever about money. I understand that I earned well during my career. You can’t compare me to a factory worker. But, as a professional player, I never cared about money. It was about playing football, the love of the sport.
During his playing career, Larsson scored 37 goals and nine assists in 106 international matches for Sweden.
