I'm disappointed that I'm destined to remain Celtic's top post-war
goal scorer for the foreseeable future. I'm chuffed to have scored 273
times
in 589 appearances as a winger for the club, especially since I had
about
400 good goals wrongly ruled out for offside! But I'm not precious
about
records and would like to have seen mine beaten next season. That
surely
would have happened were Henrik Larsson to have had a change of heart
and
stayed with my old club.
For him to have scored only 36 times fewer than me in just over half
as many
games across a mere seven years is remarkable. Or six-and-a-bit years
if you
want to be more precise because he is probably only second to me in
the
scoring stakes as a result of the seven months he was sidelined with
his
broken leg in season 1999-2000.
This makes his stats all the more incredible and, even now, I wish he
could
see what a good number he is on and remain with Celtic for at least
one more
season to claim the position of the club's No.1 goal scorer in the
modern
era. Ultimately, it might need to remain unofficial, but he already is
that
in my eyes.
Selfishly, as someone who still gets a real kick out of seeing Celtic
win
trophies, I also want Henrik to hang around because another full
season in
Scotland from him would practically guarantee the club being among the
silverware again. I know it hasn't always worked out that way in the
past,
but the team around him is now strong enough to ensure his presence
gives
Martin O'Neill's men a cutting edge that sets them apart from domestic
opponents.
I'm like my good friend Jimmy Johnstone. I can't understand why Henrik
would
want to walk away when everything at Celtic is so good for both him
and the
club right now. And I speak as someone whose days with Celtic spanned
two
decades.
On the subject of Jinky, I am not overly keen on the 'greatest-ever
Celt'
debates. So often you are not comparing like with like; whether this
might
be in terms of eras or positions played. But if forced to - and I know
I'm
biased through being his buddy and having been his team-mate - I'd say
that
Jinky merits this honour, bestowed on him by the supporters not long
ago.
Having said that, I would also make a case for Henrik's contribution
to the
Celtic cause being second to none. No player to have worn the hoops
before
or since Henrik has been personally responsible for delivering Celtic
so
much success. That is some feat.
Henrik has been the jewel in the crown of the excellent sides
fashioned by
Martin O'Neill over the past four years and he is a marvelous player
to
watch, both for his work ethic and invention. I've never seen that guy
give
anything less than his full whack for Celtic. Even more than praising
his
ability to deliver and create goals, that is the highest compliment I
can
pay him.
It has amazed me, too, how his all-round game just seems to have
become
better and better with each passing season as his goal scoring knack
has
never diminished. Someone who pays great interest in these things
tells me
that since his leg break four years ago he has never gone more than
three
games without scoring. That is astonishing and it has made for some
hilarious talk of a 'goals crisis' on the rare occasions Henrik has
gone a
couple of games without finding the net.
I've met Henrik on a number of occasions and found him extremely
pleasant. I
can't believe that he hasn't a club lined up. He keeps his cards close
to
his chest and I quite admire him for the fact that what people don't
need to
know about Henrik's personal business he doesn't tell them.
He lets his football do the talking and, by God, it has spoken volumes
for
him in this country. I love the fact that he is as likely to score a
spectacular effort as a scrambled one and will derive just as much
pleasure
out of either. Equally, he can bang them in with left foot, right foot
or
his head. He always finds the ways when he has a scent of goal.
When it comes to his most memorable scoring efforts, like everyone
else I
find it impossible to see past his two goals in the UEFA Cup final
last
year. Although, I must say this outrageously cheeky chip in the 6-2
win over
Rangers a few years back was a goal that forever springs to mind when
I
think about his great moments in Celtic colours.
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The manner in which he twice hauled Celtic back
into it against Porto that
night in Seville truly was Herculean. His first header was nothing
short of
a wonderful feat of acrobatics and then for him to punish the
Portuguese
again in similar fashion was a tribute to his ability to find space
where
there doesn't appear to be any.
Henrik would be the first to say that in Chris Sutton and Alan
Thompson he
has been fortunate to have team-mates able to bring the best out in
him.
Chris's knock-downs and flick-ons and Alan's pinpoint accuracy from
dead ball
situations have been fundamental to Henrik being able to churn out the
goals, game after game.
Indeed, it always amuses me that at corners and set-pieces you will
see a
cluster of markers around Henrik as he awaits a ball in from Alan, and
yet
you just know they will be powerless to prevent the Swede popping up
to nod
the ball into the net. I mean, how many times has that happened?
A cottage industry has sprung up around Henrik, what with masks,
t-shirts,
flags, DVDs, videos, books and you name it using his image. The
hero-worship
of Henke has been endearing. In him, the Celtic fans have had an idol
deserving of the name. Meanwhile, the club's young fans have had a
role
model whose ultra-professional approach to the game and the way he
lives his
life outside it make him someone genuinely worth admiring and learning
from.
There is another reason why Henrik will always be fine by me. I like
the
fact he has come alive to the joys of golf in his time at Celtic. This
shows
his desire to fit in, settle down and embrace Scottish ways. I just
wish I
could be fitting in some good walks for him between Celtic games next
season.
Bobby
Lennox
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