Henrik Larsson has told FourFourTwo he wished he had been able to extend his loan spell at Manchester United in 2007 beyond two months and taste trophy success.
The former Celtic and Barcelona striker arrived on a short-term deal from Helsingborgs in January 2007 and made an instant impact at Old Trafford.
Larsson netted on his Red Devils debut against Aston Villa in the FA Cup, and added further strikes to help sink Watford in the league and Lille in Europe.
The Swede’s final appearance before returning home came in an FA Cup draw at Middlesbrough, as Alex Ferguson’s men went on to win the league title by six points and reach the first-ever FA Cup final at the new Wembley, losing to Chelsea.
I should have stayed, as it would have meant I got a Premier League winner’s medal, and I would have stayed for one more season. But I still had a contract with Helsingborgs and I feel that when you sign a contract, you have to see it out
“That’s the only regret I have in my career,” he says. “I should have stayed, as it would have meant I got a Premier League winner’s medal, and I would have stayed for one more season. But I still had a contract with Helsingborgs and I feel that when you sign a contract, you have to see it out.
“Everything was professional at Manchester United. When I had to attend a christening for my brother’s children, the club ordered a plane to take me there after a match. United really take care of all their players.”
Read the full interview with Henrik Larsson in the January 2017 issue of FourFourTwo magazine. Our Men of the Year edition includes interviews with Jerome Boateng, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Michail Antonio and Hal Robson-Kanu, and hears from Christian Fuchs, Marc Albrighton, Andy King and Leonardo Ulloa on Leicester City’s remarkable 2015/16 season. Also this month, we talk to USA midfielder Megan Rapinoe on the kneel that was seen around the world, remember Johan Cruyff with his close friend Jaap de Groot, share a beer with our Fans of the Year, Iceland, and travel to Lapland to have a kickabout with Santa. Go get it, then subscribe!
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Gregg Davies is the Chief Sub Editor of FourFourTwo magazine, joining the team in January 2008 and spending seven years working on the website. He supports non-league behemoths Hereford and commentates on Bulls matches for Radio Hereford FC. His passions include chocolate hobnobs and attempting to shoehorn Ronnie Radford into any office conversation.
