Henrik Larsson had a close relationship with Martin O’Neill at Celtic during his seven-year stay at the club.
Larsson is a Celtic icon and, alongside O’Neill, placed the club at the top of Scottish football and made them feared in Europe once again.
Under O’Neill, Larsson won three titles (which included Celtic’s first treble since the Jock Stein era), three Scottish Cups and a League Cup.
Celtic also reached the 2003 UEFA Cup final which Larsson admits is his one big regret over his time at the Parkhead club.
However, the super-Swede delivered a Martin O’Neill story to Roy Keane which the former Celtic striker admits he has never once told the Man United hero before.
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The argument Henrik Larsson had with Martin O’Neill at Celtic
In a recent sit down with Keane, Larsson shares a story of a half-time fight he had with O’Neill during his playing days at Celtic.
And it really was an X-rated affair.
Larsson told Stick to Football, “I never told you, I had one [an argument] with O’Neill.
Keane: “Yeah, tell us what happened with Martin.”
Larsson: “Right. I had a nightmare first half, really. I couldn’t keep hold of the ball. It was just bouncing, bang, bang. It didn’t matter what I did, and I couldn’t score.”
Keane: “He wouldn’t like that, would he?”
Larsson: “He said, just fu–ing get hold of the ball, And I said, I don’t need you to fu–ing tell me what to do. And then we started like, and then Robbo [John Robertson] was there.
“But we calmed down, it was nothing there, and then I got the ball in the second half, I smashed it in, goal, and then it was solved.”
Ian Wright: “Was he okay then?”
Larsson: “Yeah, but he’s not going to hold it [against me].”
Watch Henrik tell the story below:
Celtic fans will never see the likes of Henrik Larsson again
Larsson was truly a world-class striker at Celtic. The Sweden international proved himself not only in Scotland, but also in Europe and with his country in major tournaments.
The Hoops icon is probably the last time Celtic fans can say they have had a genuine world-class player at the club because since Larsson left, no one else has come close.
Larsson’s love for Celtic is still intact to this day and that is consistently reciprocated by all generations of fans.
If only Celtic had a player in their ranks now with half the talent Larsson had, they wouldn’t be in this sorry mess.
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