On this day in 1997.... Celtic completed the signing of the ‘King of Kings’ Henrik Larsson from Feyenoord for a bargain £650,000 transfer fee.
Signed at a time when the club were desperately seeking a top goal scorer under the management of new boss Wim Jansen, who knew the player well and was aware of the clause in his contract at the Dutch side, Celtic were bidding to not only prevent Rangers from winning ten-in-a-row but to preserve the Lisbon Lions legacy under Jock Stein.
The Swedish international would go on to make 315 appearances for the Parkhead club and score a sensational 242 goals. Add in eight major honours, one European final and a golden boot, he remains one of the best players to ever pull on the Hoops jersey.
Larsson often reflects on his seven-year spell in Glasgow’s East End as the place where he shot to stardom, admitting: “This is the club for me. This is where I made myself as a player, this is where everybody got to know me and this is the club that I will be eternally grateful to.”
Not only did he score a number of hugely important and memorable goals, he left behind a legacy and is still adored by the Celtic faithful to this day. Here is a look back at some of his best moments at the club 26 years on from putting pen to paper:
13. UEFA Cup final heartache
Around 80,000 supporters made the trip to Seville where Celtic faced Jose Mourinho’s FC Porto side. Larsson again found himself on the score sheet twice but was on the wrong end of a heart-breaking 3-2 scoreline. | AFP via Getty Images
14. Signing off in style
Larsson had announced he would be leaving the club at the end of the season. His final competitive game at home for Celtic came in a league match against Dundee United on 16 May 2004, and he scored both goals in a 2–1 victory. | Getty Images
15. Lasting legacy
A consistent goalscorer in European competition and on the domestic front, fans selected Larsson (the only player from outside Scotland) in the greatest ever Celtic team, when a vote was held in 2002. He was also voted Swedish Footballer of the Year for the second time for his performances throughout the 2003/04 campaign. | Getty Images
16. Moment to savour
There’s no doubt Larsson was a rip-roaring success story for Celtic but the club was a very good fit for him. He won 4 SPL titles, two Scottish Cups and two League Cups. Add in the fact he finished up as top goal scorer in FIVE out of six seasons in Scotland made him a force to be reckoned with. | Getty Images