Henrik Larsson signed for Celtic on this Day in 1997

On this day 1997, the King of Kings signed for Celtic…

On this day 29 years ago, a young Swedish footballer walked on to the Celtic Park turf in his Hoops top and denims, as he was announced as a new Celtic player. The man in question was none other than Henrik Larsson, a figure who doesn’t need any introduction to the Celtic support.

25th July 1997, Henrik Larsson signs for Celtic.

The King of Kings.👑 pic.twitter.com/rLGKYHJZCx

— Celtic GIFs (@CelticGIFs) July 24, 2026

Signed for the bargain fee of £650,000 from Feyenoord, thanks to new Celtic manager Wim Jansen’s inside knowledge of the players contract situation having signed him for the Dutch side as few years earlier, Henrik would go on to become one of the greatest players in the clubs illustrious unbroken history.

Despite a shaky start, in which he was part culpable for an opening day loss at Hibs, the dreadlocked Swede soon warmed his way into the hearts of the Celtic supporters on a game by game basis until we had all fallen in love with our new talisman.

🗓 On this Day 25th July 1997

Henrik Larsson signed for Celtic Football Club ✍️🏽 🍀 pic.twitter.com/zOsXb5jQww

— Celtic Curio (@Celticcurio) July 25, 2026

A League cup triumph, and our first league title in a decade – to stop their ten – in his debut season enhanced his importance to the Celtic team and popularity with the fans.The next campaign he got even better, scoring 38 goals as he became the complete striker under Dr Jozef Venglos’ guidance.

Henrik also showed his terrific mental strength when he overcame a horrific leg break in Lyon to come back even better than before. That horrible injury probably was a significant factor in John Barnes’ reign at Celtic coming to a speedy end.

Under the guidance of Martin O’Neill, the super Swede elevated himself to an even higher level forming a terrific partnership with Chris Sutton, which saw Henrik scoring an impressive 53 goals as the club won the domestic treble, in the Irishman’s debut season, the club’s first clean sweep in 32 years.

The following years were just as successful, not just domestically but in European competition also as Henrik’s goals were the catalyst for us reaching the UEFA Cup Final, with two world class finishes in the final extra-time defeat to Porto further highlighting his class.

By the time he left the club in 2004, Henrik had scored 242 goals in 313 appearances, cementing his place as the third top scorer in the club’s unbroken history, as well as becoming a true Celtic legend.

Happy Birthday Henrik Larsson.

The King of Kings.👑 pic.twitter.com/GSnakaRNDa

— Celtic GIFs (@CelticGIFs) September 19, 2025

Henrik Larsson signed 29 years ago today, and we should celebrate that as he is a genuine club legend, and most certainly the best Celtic player in my lifetime, something many of you will agree with.

Yes, the older generation can point to Jimmy Johnstone and the Lisbon Lions and rightly so. Others watching Celtic in the seventies will be justified in mentioning Kenny Dalglish – another King who went on to be voted Liverpool Fc Greatest Ever Player.

But I reckon that the majority of Celtic Supporters around today would opt for Henrik Larsson as the best that they’ve ever seen in the Hoops. He truly is our King of Kings.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

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