HENRIK: I'VE HAD ENOUGH.Byline: Neil Cameron
CELTIC Celt·ic also Kelt·ic n. A subfamily of the Indo-European language family comprising the Insular and the Continental branches. adj. Of or relating to the Celtic people and languages. legend Henrik Larsson This article is about the Swedish footballer. For the Danish footballer, see Henrik Larsen Henrik Edward Larsson MBE [IPA: 'hɛnrɪk 'lɑːʂɔn is being tipped to become a full-time hockey player after he announced his retirement from football yesterday. While the adoring Hoops fans want to see him return to Parkhead - even as boss in the not-too-distant future - Larsson is said to want to carry on playing professional sport. Sources close to the striker are adamant he will return to floorball, which is best described as a type of indoor hockey. Floorball is played by teams of six and popular in Scandinavia as it can be played all-year round. Larsson played regularly as a youngster and went back to the sport briefly last year when he turned out for Helsingborg FC. While the 38-year-old remains tight-lipped over his future the Swedish media are convinced he is going to play floorball for at least one season. Larsson is expected to hold a press conference today ahead of his final game a week on Sunday at Elfsborg but yesterday all he would say was: "I'm 38 now, so it has been enough. "I enjoyed my career and I want to thank everyone who has supported me in all these years. Now it's time for something else. I will think things over what I would like to do. First I will need time to adjust to the non-football life. "What I do know now is I'm 100 per cent sure about my decision to end my playing career." Larsson has kept to his word by ending his career with local club Helsingborg whose sporting director Jesper Jansson admitted he had hoped to persuade the national treasure to play on for one more season. He said: "We did not want him to stop playing after this season but we also respect Henrik's decision and feel tremendously grateful for all his contributions. "We at HIF HIF Hypoxia Inducible Factor HIF Heavy Ion Fusion HIF Housing Inspection Foundation HIF Hammarby Idrottsförening (Swedish sport team) HIF Hey, It's Free (website) had obviously hoped Sweden's greatest player would play on for another season. "Whatever Henrik does now it will be a success. His professionalism has been excellent since he came to us." The Swede swede: see turnip. was name in Celtic's all-time greatest side in 2002, one of just four non-Lisbon Lions along with Kenny Dalglish, Danny McGrain and Paul McStay, Larsson scored more than 350 goals for Hogaborg, Feyenoord, Celtic, Barcelona, Manchester United and Helsingborg, plus 37 times in winning 106 caps for Sweden. Neil Cameron CAPTION(S): ON TO ANOTHER WINNER: Larsson stars at floorball |
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