Source: SKY_Sports
Larsson says tearful farewell
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} Henrik Larsson bid a tearful farewell to professional football after he played his last ever game for hometown club Helsingborg.[LNB] The 38-year-old began his career with Hogaborg before spells with Helsingborg, Feyenoord, Celtic, Barcelona and Manchester United yielding a total of 415 goals.[LNB]The striker was also a vital member of the Swedish national team making over 100 appearances for his country scoring 37 goals.[LNB]The prolific marksman won four SPL titles with Celtic, two La Liga crowns with Barca as well as a UEFA Champions League winners' medal in 2006 and a Premier League title while on loan at United.[LNB]The result in his final game was not fitting for someone who has given football so much as Helsingborg sank to a 2-0 defeat to Djurgarden.[LNB]An emotional Larsson was close to tears when video tributes from United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, former Sweden coach Lars Lagerback and international team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic were displayed on a huge screen after the match. [LNB]"It really hits you when you meet all this love," he said. "I'm normally quite a cool character but right now I feel like I could cry.[LNB]"It's huge to be able to end it on our home ground and it has to end some time. It's rubbish to end things this way (with a defeat) but you can't have everything in life."[LNB]MovingLarsson was also moved that Helsingborg had decided to retire his number 17 shirt in his honour: "It's a fantastic gesture by the club, to retire it for ever. I'm very moved."[LNB]Larsson admitted that retirement had already left him feeling empty and revealed he would like to remain in the game in some capacity.[LNB]"I don't know if I have to go down to the employment agency and do certain things, but I have the luck and luxury to be able to say no to jobs which are offered to me," he pointed out.[LNB]"But obviously there is an emptiness at present, and I need to fill that emptiness with something.[LNB]"I'm fortunate enough to have earned enough money to be able to sit back and not panic, but I have to do something. I can't just glide through the rest of my life."[LNB]
