Henrik Larsson

Henrik Larsson was born in Helsingborg, Sweden on September 20th 1971. As a child he was that kind of guy who always were in a fight with his classmates. The first game he saw was in Helsingborg, Sweden. His dad took Henrik to watch soccer games. He saw the first international club team, Watford, coming to Heslingborg. Henrik was annoying everyone, because he wanted to go out on the field and play himself. His favorite was running and kicking the ball. One of the games he rememberd was a cup game for Hogaborg BK at the age of nine and that was a game that still sticks in his mind. The first goal he scored was in Högaborg when he was six years old. 1993 to 1997 he played for the Dutch team Feyenoord, but it wasn't that successful for him. In 1997 he arrived in Scotland and to the team Celtic, but he started on the bench because of injuries. Henrik was told by the coach to play down the left wing. He wasen't that pleased because his best position was an out-and-out striker. The first game he played for the Swedish national team was a World Cup qualifier in 1993 against Finland in Helsinki. The game was really important which helped make the whole experience go very quickly. Henrik scored to make it 2-1 to Sweden and then the game ended at 3-1 to Sweden. Sweden later went to the World Cup 1994 in USA and ended at third place, amazing summer for his country. His favorite goal so far, was a half volley against Vitesse in his first season for Feyenoord. It was one of those shots that you hit and can go anywhere. It was a cold day, on a rock hard pitch and the ball had a bit of an unpredictable bounce, but this one went ok. He caught it just right and it went flying into the top corner, with the goalkeeper nowhere near it. Goals like that don't happen very often, normally there are defenders closing you down. But as that ball came across he knew he was going to strike it, Henrik says. It was very satisfying for him. 1996 he got married with his early young love Magdalena and later his son Jordan and his daughter Janelle entered in his life. After World cup 2002 Henrik decided to quit the Swedish team, because he wanted to spend more time with his family. But during the Euroqualifers in 2003 his son Jordan asked why he didn't play for the Swedish team. Henrik really missed his team friends and decided to come back for the Eurocup in Portugal 2004, where Sweden reached the quarterfinal after a penelty shoutout against Holland. He said to the coach Lasse Lagerbeck that he will play for Sweden until his career is finished. Next summer he will play in the World cup in Germany. In August 2004 he signed for Barcelona and has a contract until 2007.