Celtic legend and ex-Man Utd and Barcelona star Henrik Larsson lined-up for incredible return to Parkhead
CELTIC legend Henrik Larsson is in the frame for a sensational return to Parkhead this summer.
SunSport understands Neil Lennon is considering the legend and close pal for a coaching role to complete his backroom staff for the nine-in-a-row push.
Larsson’s compatriot and previous No 2 Johan Mjallby — who left the club in 2014 just a month before the Northern Irishman’s first spell in charge ended — is also on the shortlist.
Lennon has several other names in mind following the board’s confirmation a week ago he now has the hot-seat permanently on a 12-month rolling contract.
But it is former team-mate Larsson’s potential comeback to Paradise which will grab the imagination of the fans who worshipped the Swede during his seven years as a lethal striker.
They hailed him the ‘King of Kings’ as he produced a staggering 242 goals from 315 games between 1997-2004 before a highly-emotional exit and later move to Barcelona.
John Kennedy will stay as Lennon’s No 2, Damien Duff as first-team coach and Stevie Woods as goalkeeping coach.
Lennon inherited the trio on his return to Parkhead in February as interim boss — following Brendan Rodgers’ exit to Leicester City — and was quick to pay tribute to them as Celtic secured an amazing treble Treble.
But, ideally, he wants to add a personal choice.
Lennon and Larsson have met several times in recent months, playing golf and also both attending a recent glitzy Celtic Foundation dinner in London.
Larsson’s playing career saw him star for Feyenoord, Manchester United and Barcelona as well as winning 106 Sweden caps.
But the 47-year-old’s managerial career has come nowhere near matching the same level.
Larsson quit as Helsingborg boss in November 2016 following relegation and with both he and player son Jordan being attacked by a number of fans after a play-off defeat to Halmstad.
He’d previously failed to convince at Falkenberg and Landskrona and is now No.2 at Hogaborg.
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Larsson, however, will forever be an inspirational figure for Hoops supporters who in 2002 voted him into Celtic’s greatest-ever team.
Mjallby, 48, was another member of the hugely successful Martin O’Neill team which secured a Treble and reached the 2003 UEFA Cup final.
He successfully assisted Lennon between 2010-14 and also worked with him at Bolton before returning to Sweden where he has coached Vasteras and FC Stockholm.