Finding a player in the Swede’s quality was always going to be a daunting challenge, but Celtic cast their net wide.
“This shows what a loss he’s going to be for us – he’s a genius.”
Alan Thompson, the guy who created numerous assists for Henrik Larsson, had one last statement to offer about his renowned teammate. Celtic supporters celebrated another trophy in the Martin O’Neill era, as the Hoops legend bid farewell in his own unique style.
Larsson scored twice to defeat Dunfermline 3-1 in the Scottish Cup Final in May 2004, his final game for Celtic after a great seven-year stint in Glasgow. Larsson’s illustrious Celtic career came to an end after 242 goals in 315 games. However, the tears that flowed after his final game at Parkhead against Dundee United were replaced with beaming smiles as the striker and his teammates celebrated the Double.
Larsson left for Barcelona after Frank Rijkaard persuaded him to join the Nou Camp rejuvenation project. The Catalans are now ranked behind Real Madrid and Valencia in the La Liga standings. The search for someone to replace Larsson was well underway.
O’Neill was able to bring in big-money recruits during his time in Glasgow, but the most of them came in his first two seasons. Chris Sutton, John Hartson, and Neil Lennon cost over £20 million combined. Those three players match the Irishman’s signing profile to a T.
Tough, proven in the English Premiership, and eager to establish a point, O’Neill had a magic touch for kindling a fire under his big-game hunters. However, by the time Larsson said his sad farewell, the regulations had changed. Celtic had one of the largest budgets in British football, and they had been bolstering their squad with players like Ulrik Laursen, Momo Sylla, and David Fernandez, all of whom were affordable squad alternatives from Scottish rivals.
So, how do you handle a situation like replacing Henrik? The Day After Tomorrow was 2004’s biggest summer movie. It was a film about a world changing beyond recognition, and it struck a chord with Hoops fans still hurting from Larsson’s departure.
Finding a player of the Swede’s caliber was always going to be difficult, but Celtic cast a wide net and weren’t afraid to put everything on the line.
O’Neill was nothing if not ambitious, and his top aim certainly met the criteria for glitter and status. Rivaldo, one of the best players of his generation, was the player the former Leicester manager saw as filling the shoes of the Parkhead club’s favorite son.
The 32-year-old forward was a free agent after leaving Cruzeiro after a tumultuous two-year stint with Euro powerhouse Milan.
O’Neill, never known for his soft approach to the transfer market, failed to hit the proper buttons when he offered the Barcelona star a trial for the club’s pre-season tour of America.
The action was met with disbelief. Carlos Arime, the player’s representative, stated that “people will be crying tears of laughter” when they learn of Celtic’s intentions. Arime had a point. Rivaldo would go on to prove that there was still life in the old hound, scoring 43 goals in 95 appearances during a fabled three-year stint with Olympiacos following Celtic’s failed chase. The World Cup winner was no longer on the table, but another attempt to sign a Samba star would fail.
Marcio Amoroso was a goal machine while at Dortmund, but fears about a knee ailment and reports of an attitude the size of Christ the Redeemer ruled out any potential trade.
In May, the 19-cap Selecao standout trained with Celtic. When queried about a potential agreement for the forward, O’Neill remained cryptic, but his agent appeared eager to get him to the United States in order to secure a contract.
However, Amoroso received no contract offer, and the Scottish champions were forced to start over in their attempt to replace the goal-shaped hole Larsson had left behind. Dimitar Berbatov, who was still with Bayer Leverkusen at the time, had also been linked.
Celtic could not afford to wait, and the hunt was getting increasingly frantic. The Hoops knew they needed a new striker, so a deal was arranged with Wolves to bring Henri Camara to Glasgow. Camara, who concluded the 2003/04 season like a runaway train after taking his time settling at Molineux, was pursued by a number of clubs before Celtic won the race for his services.
The demand to recruit the Senegalese international was reflected in the price tag, with the Hoops paying £1.5 million for a 12-month loan agreement, a British record at the time. Camara was on board, but Celtic felt they still needed an X-factor in attack and went back to the market in quest of more creative talent.
O’Neill, who almost solely shopped in the UK market, was looking for a Premier League player to improve his side. And the Brazilian beat was still ringing in O’Neill’s ears when he made his bid for Middlesbrough legend Juninho.
There was genuine enthusiasm surrounding the signing of the 31-year-old Riverside veteran to supplement a front three of Camara, Sutton, and Hartson. Despite a rousing debut against Rangers, Juninho was never able to live up to his lofty expectations, appearing only 22 times in an ill-fated year in Scottish football.
The little playmaker’s time in Glasgow was hampered by O’Neill’s insistence on playing him on the right side rather than his preferred position in the midfield, as well as being saddled with Larsson’s iconic No.7 jersey.
Camara did not make the grade, but he had more to be proud of. He scored eight goals in 18 league games and assisted Sutton’s equaliser against Barcelona.
But the striker was never able to get a break as Larsson’s shadow loomed larger. The Swedish icon returned to Parkhead that night and scored, reminding every Celtic fan of what they had been missing.
Although Camara had a fair strike percentage, he never seemed to be able to match his predecessor’s ability to form a strike tandem with Sutton or Hartson. He returned to Wolves in January to make way for a player capable of commanding Celtic’s attack.
Enter Craig Bellamy. The forward was as bold as brass, but the out-of-favour Newcastle attacker had a point to prove after a clash with Graeme Souness. The Welshman resurrected Celtic’s season, and his outstanding performances should have secured the club’s fourth title in five years.
Bellamy scored nine goals in 15 appearances, but his astonishing performance to sink Rangers and put the Hoops five points ahead with four games remaining was possibly his most telling contribution. The jet-heeled attacker, however, hobbled off and would miss the game against Hibs six days later, as O’Neill’s side quickly surrendered their lead over their opponents.
Bellamy would return weeks later, but he could only watch as Scott McDonald scored twice and the chopper took off for Easter Road, where Rangers won the title at the last minute. That heartbreaking loss was part of the concluding chapter of O’Neill’s Celtic narrative.
Yes, the Hoops won the Scottish Cup Final six days later against Dundee United, but the five-year thrill trip had come to an end at Fir Park the previous week. Larsson’s departure foreshadowed Celtic’s new era, and O’Neill’s departure a year later confirmed it.
Gordon Strachan took over in the summer of 2005 and implemented a new style on a tight budget. O’Neill has already cautioned of the “life in the slow lane” that lay ahead. Despite an early setback, Strachan went on to win three successive titles and advance to the Champions League round of 16.
Celtic supporters have had enough to cheer about since the King of Kings abdicated his Parkhead reign, but no one has ever been able to fill his shoes. Yes, the attempt to replace him failed, but that was always going to be the case.
Larsson was unique in the sense that no other “genius” existed like him.What made Larsson so special was there wasn’t another “genius” like him.
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