Ghod Speaks

1971-1988: THE EARLY YEARS

 "When teachers asked us in class what we wanted to be, the other kids would say the obvious things like train driver, or fireman. I always said I wanted to be a professional footballer"

I was born in September 1971 in Helsingborg, a small football-mad Swedish city. My father, who came from the Cape Verde Islands off the West African coast, loved the game as well, and apparently as soon as I started to walk I had a football at my feet. He gave me my first ball when I was 16 months and I learned to dribble with, and without, the ball!

Football dominated our playtime. There was a really nice grassy field down the bottom of our garden, and all the kids in the neighbourhood used to kick about there. We had big games, and I'd play with my brothers Kim, who's now 31, and Robert, who's 26. I loved swimming as well, and in the winter I skated on the frozen ponds. Ice hockey is big in the area but I just wanted to play football.

We'd watch the top English matches on TV on Saturday afternoons, especially Liverpool and Spurs who had some great players at the time. I watched people like Kenny Dalglish, Kevin Keegan, Terry MacDermott, at Liverpool, and Ossie Ardiles at Spurs, and just wanted to be like them. My parents also gave me a video of Pele's life story, and I watched it again and again. When teachers asked us in class what we wanted to be, the other kids would say the obvious things like train driver, or fireman. I always said I wanted to be a professional footballer. I think they thought I was just a dreamer. Perhaps I was.

I was a small child, and had a bit of hard time at school, but I think being good at sport helped. I wasn't that interested in school, I was always in a rush, and ran everywhere. At that age you don't realise the hard work involved in becoming a footballer. There are so many talented footballers out there you have to be dedicated, but also lucky. Being in the right place at the right time is very important.

I joined my first proper team, Hogaborg BK in Helsingborg, when I was six. For years I was convinced I'd make it as a pro, but then when I got to around 12 I seemed to stop growing and all the other boys were getting bigger. I was still quite quick, but it was getting easier for the big lads to knock me about. I spent the following season,when I was 13, completely on the bench, and a lot of the enthusiasm I had went. It wasn't just that I stopped wanting to be a footballer, I just stopped trying so hard. But one coach, Bent Person, who unfortunately died recently, took me aside. He believed I had a real talent and he told me that I was still young and would grow soon. He also said that talent isn't always enough, sometimes you have to work hard as well. It's advice I've taken with me everywhere.

When I was 15, I was asked to train with the seniors during the summer, and the following year they moved me up to the senior team. I played my first full game for them at 17 in the Swedish Third Division. I loved it. I was doing loads of other jobs, packing fruit and vegetables in a warehouse, and supervising kids in a youth centre next to a school.

1988-1993: THE HELSINGBORGS YEARS

 "I scored 16 goals and was among the top scorers in Sweden. They were two great years"

When I was 19 I met the girl I was going to marry, Magdelena, and she helped to settle me down. We met in a restaurant, but I'm not saying what my chat-up line was, it's personal. Life was pretty good then and, although I was still enjoing football, it wasn't everything to me. Then when I was 21 I heard the local semi-pro team, Helsingborgs IF, who were in the First Division, were interested. It's a small city and they knew who the talented players were in the region.

To be honest I'd begun to think that my dream of becoming a pro might never happen. When you get to your early 20s and you haven't broken through, the doubts creep in. I had an idea that Helsingborgs were interested in me, and they had been watching my progress. I was at work one day and got a call from the club. A friend drove me down and I signed immediately for £300 a month without bonuses.

I started training seriously and in that first season I scored 34 goals. The team was promoted to the top division, the Swedish Premier League, for the first time in 22 years. That gave me a great chance to see how I would perform at the top level. I scored 16 goals and was among the top scorers in Sweden. They were two great years. Then in September 1993 I signed for Feyenoord.

1993-94: FEYENOORD AND THE 1994 WORLD CUP

 "I hit it to the left, the keeper went right, and the ball just sneaked in off the post. My heart stops even now when I see that film"

I had nearly moved to Grasshoppers of Zurich before I joined Feyenoord. We were just finalising the details when I heard Feyenoord wanted me. With all due respect to Swiss football, there was only one decision there. Feyenoord had been watching me for a while. I cost £295,000, and half of that fee went to my first club because of an agreement in my contract. It was a big adventure, going down to Holland, learning a new language, making new friends, and I knew that I'd made it as a pro.

I couldn't actually join Feyenoord until November because I had to make sure Helsingborgs were safe from relegation before I left. But when I did arrive in Holland, I loved it both on and off the pitch. I was great friends with Orlando Trustfull and we played a lot of snooker and pool together. When Magdalena arrived, she made friends with Orlando's wife and the four of us would see a lot of each other.

My first game was against Vitesse - it was minus six degrees and the pitch was frozen solid. I didn't have a brilliant season, I only scored one goal in about 16 games, but the next season I managed to get about 11 and that summer, 1994, I played in the World Cup finals in America. I had hoped I'd be in the starting line-up for Sweden, but when I turned up at the training camp I was really tired and I had lost my touch a bit.

As training went on, I realised it wasn't going to happen for me, and for our first game against Cameroon I was on the bench. We were 1-0 up and then they went 2-1 ahead. I came on with with 25 minutes to go and was playing on the left wing. I remember wandering over to the right and getting the ball just outside the centre circle from Roland Nilsson. I had this crazy idea to have a shot. I struck it hard and the ball came down off the cross bar letting Martin Dahlin score from the rebound.

I played the whole of the next game against Brazil on the left wing. I played badly and the match ended 1-1. Then I spent the whole of the next game against Russia on the bench, and we won 3-1. To be honest, it was such a hot day, it was quite nice to be on the bench because it was air-conditioned.

The next game, against Saudi Arabia, we managed to win 3-1 but in the quarter-final against Romania we threw away a 1-0 lead with 10 minutes to go. Dahlin was tired so I came on in extra-time. After extra-time it was 2-2 and so it went to penalties. Patrik Andersson came over and told me I was going to be the sixth penalty-taker, probably because they didn't think it would go that far. Unfortunately, our first penalty went over the bar, they missed one, and that meant I had to take my penalty.

I remember it like yesterday. I sat in the centre circle thinking about all the penalties I'd ever taken and trying to calm myself down. I hit it to the left, the keeper went right, and the ball just sneaked in off the post. My heart stops even now when I see that film. We went through to the semi final, but again I didn't play and we lost to Brazil. The third and fourth place play-off was against Bulgaria. I scored and we won 4-1.

I remember the goal. I found myself just inside their half. I think it could have been Kennet Anderson who played a square ball to me and I was able to touch it past the Bulgarian defender as the Bulgarian team tried to push up on us. I had the goalkeeper to beat and, as I got into the penalty area, he came out and I pushed it to his right. The goalkeeper was down and beaten and the goal was in front of me. A Bulgarian defender came flying across trying to block me and I dummied to shoot with my left. He tried to get in the way and as he put his knee down he simply fell over, which was pretty funny. I then rounded him and all I had to do was roll the ball over the line, which, luckily, I did. It was a good goal to score and, because of the importance of the game, it's one of my favourites. The feeling was incredible and getting that medal was unbelievable.

1994-97: FEYENOORD

"Football's my hobby, something that I'm good at and can get paid for doing well"

The 1994-95 season back in Holland was OK, Feyenoord got to the semi final of the European Cup where we lost to Zaragoza, but by 1995-96 I was starting to have a really bad time on the pitch. We'd got a new coach, and he was swapping me all over the place. I played on the right wing, the left wing, in midfield, and by the end of 1996 I really wanted to get away.

I saw myself as a striker, but they were playing me everywhere. The Dutch press were on my back. I think they accepted I was a talented player, but I just wasn't scoring the goals. It didn't upset me, I just stopped reading the papers, but I believe you have to enjoy your football.

I take the game seriously, but it's not like other work. Really it's my hobby, something that I'm good at and can get paid for doing well. If I'm not enjoying it then I want to change things. There was a clause in my contract that said if an offer came in of more than £600,000 I could go. I told my manager I wanted to go. It ended up in court but in the end things came right. I was really lucky, because Wim Jansen who had taken me to Feyenoord was now at Celtic. As soon as I knew he was interested there was no question in my mind about what I was going to do. I was really keen to move, and I knew a lot about Celtic. I knew they were a huge team with great fans, and I didn't hesitate for a moment. I signed on 28 July 1997, and when I went to Parkhead and faced the press I realised what a huge move it was.

1997-1998: MOVING TO CELTIC

 "The Celtic fans had been in agony for nine years, and we loved that we could finally deliver the Championship for them"

My son Jordan, who I named after Michael Jordan, an athlete I really admire, was born the month before I moved to Celtic, and it was all a huge change in my life. Magdalena came over and we set up home in Bothwell, Lanarkshire. It's a great place to live. I play golf with team-mates and Magdalena rides.

The Celtic fans are incredible. I know they like me, and I have a great deal of respect for them, too. However, I didn't have the greatest of starts in a Celtic shirt. I was brought on against Hibernian away and, when I got the ball just outside our penalty area, I heard one of my team-mates calling for it. I looked down to pass the ball, but as I did he stepped away and a Hibs player had moved in. He scored and we lost 2-1. I knew I messed up and I was pretty disappointed.

However, that season Celtic won the league and stopped Rangers making it 10 in a row. I knew there was great Old Firm rivalry, but as the season went on I had become aware of how important it was. The Celtic fans had been in agony for nine years, and we loved that we could finally deliver the Championship for them.

We could have sewn it up away to Dunfermline, but we only got a draw, and I remember coming back to Parkhead and fans were crying, and saying, 'Please do it for us next week.' We did, we beat St Johnstone and then had the biggest party ever. I scored 16 goals in that 1997-98 season, but the following year was when I cracked in 39 goals, including 29 in the League.

1998-2000: BATTLING BACK FROM INJURY

 "I made the squad for Euro 2000 at the last moment"

For me, 1998-99 was great, but for the club it was a bad season because we didn't win the League, and we lost the Cup Final. The players around me were brilliant, they gave me the ball because they knew what sort of form I was in. I had great service, and a lot of luck. I was voted the best Swedish footballer in my home country, Players' Player of the Year, Sports Writers' Player of the Year, and that was very touching. Football is a team sport, but when you are recognised as an individual it really means something.

Of course I was really looking forward to the next season, and it started very well. I scored seven goals in seven games and then we trotted off to Lyon for a UEFA Cup match against Olympique on 21 October and I broke my leg. Everybody saw what happened, and I suppose it's one of those things you have to face if you're a pro footballer.

It was a bit frustrating last season, but I worked really hard and everyone at the club was brilliant. Magdalena has settled in Scotland really well. In a way, with the weather and everything, it's a lot like Sweden.

The people here are fantastic and, although they recognise you, they give you space. If I'm having trouble understanding anyone they just talk slower. My son Jordan's growing up a Scot and when we can get a babysitter we go off to a nice restaurant or the pictures. We go back to Sweden quite regularly and I pop in at my old club, which is great. They are really pleased with what I've achieved.

I made the squad for Euro 2000 at the last minute, and of course I was very excited. One of the coaches came and told me personally before it was announced and that was very nice. When I went to the training camp there were two places going, and I knew if I worked hard I had a chance of getting one of them. It was good to know that all that hard work had paid off.

I said all along that I would simply go to the training camp and take one day at a time, and see how things went. Obviously, it went really well for me - the leg felt fine and my movement was good. I went into tackles without any fear, and that was nice to know. I got good advice and treatment. This was the goal I was working towards, but I didn't let myself get carried away.

Unfortunately we really didn't perform to our potential during Euro 2000. We were in a tough group, but to be honest, as most professionals know these days, there are no easy teams. From a personal point of view, I was pleased that I had no problems with the leg and that I'd got back to full fitness. Now I'm just looking forward to a great season with Celtic.

Milestones

  First game I saw

 The first game I ever saw was probably at Helsingborg. I used to pester my dad to take me to watch games, and I suppose I must have been a bit of a pain. It's funny, because the first live match could well have been a game Helsingborgs played against Watford. I kept going on at my father to take me to matches so he took me along to that one, which he obviously thought would be a good match for me to watch, an English team coming over and everything. I think it was a cold day and then to top everything I thought it was so boring that I just kept fidgeting about, and in the end he had to take me home because I was annoying everyone. Part of the problem was that I just liked running about and kicking the ball. It was a bit of a problem for me to have to stand around and watch other people playing, I wanted to go and do it myself.

First match I played

The first proper match I remember playing in was a cup game for Hogaborg BK, and I suppose I must have been about nine. I played loads of games before that, but that's the one that sticks in my mind. It was a real kick-and-rush game, I don't think there was a lot of skill going on.

I remember really well that we were 1-0 up and we asked the referee how much longer there was on the clock. He told us there was 50 seconds left, and we all just wanted to defend and stop them getting near our goal. We thought we were nearly there. We were young boys and it was a cup game, really important to us. The other team got the ball and started playing it around. It must have taken them well over a minute to get near our goal - and then they went and scored. We couldn't believe it. We surrounded the referee because we were sure he had cheated us. Everybody was shouting at the referee, but as always with a referee, he wasn't about to change his mind.

So, in the end the game went to penalties, which is pretty nerve-wracking no matter what age you are. I took mine and scored it. Then my best friend stepped up to take his and he blasted it over the bar. At the time I think I was trying to console him, because he was feeling bad enough about the whole thing as it was.

 Debut for Celtic

My first game for Celtic wasn't as good as I would have liked. I was on the bench but, because of injuries, I was brought on and told to play down the left wing. I wasn't that pleased because I always feel my best position is as an out-and-out striker. I have to admit that I was quite nervous.

We were playing Hibernian away in Edinburgh, and, as always, there was a great travelling support of Celtic fans. I remember receiving the ball just outside our penalty area. I was still feeling a bit off the boil, and when I heard one of my team-mates calling for the ball I was quite happy to get rid of it. I looked up and saw him just left of me, so I looked down again in order to play the ball. Unfortunately while I was looking down my own player had moved position and one of the Hibernian players had stepped into his position. It was only as I struck the ball I realised what had happened. He took it in one movement, strode forward and struck it past our keeper.

It didn't help that we went on to lose the game 2-1, so you could say that my mistake cost us any points. The journey back from Edinburgh wasn't any fun, but the other Celtic players were great. I just wanted to get back on the pitch and show the fans what I could really do."

Debut for Sweden

The first game I played for the Swedish national team was a World Cup qualifier in 1993 against Finland in Helsinki. The game was really important, and I was nervous, which helped make the whole experience go very quickly. What I do remember is that I got a goal to make the score 2-1 to Sweden, and then we went on to win 3-1. My dream had been to play for my country, but to score on my debut was just incredible. And to top it all we qualified for the World Cup finals that day.

 Worst game

The worst game I have ever had personally was the one against Brazil in the first round of the 1994 World Cup in America. I'd come on in the second half of the previous game against Cameroon, and I'd done enough to get picked to start the match against Brazil, which was a great thrill for me. However, it was just one of those days when you know nothing is going your way. We managed to draw 1-1, but I didn't get into that game at all. It wasn't a bad game for Sweden, but for henrik Larsson it was a very bad day. It was no surprise when I was put on the bench for the whole of the next game against Russia.

 Worst moment

By far the worst moment of my career was when I broke my leg. The season had been going well, and I was looking forward to a long European run. We went down to Lyon for our UEFA Cup match and it all went wrong. I went in to block the guy, and took the ball on my right leg. Then I planted my left leg on the turf and my studs caught. I could hear it go. The next moment I was lying on my back. When I looked up I could see my ankle hanging there at right angles to my leg and I just thought, 'That really shouldn't be like that.' At that point I couldn't feel any pain at all, and I called the Dutch referee over and told him I needed a stretcher. It was only after I was on the stretcher that the pain started to kick in. But it never went through my head that I wouldn't play football again.

 My first goal

It must have been shortly after I started playing for Hogaborg boys, when I was six. I don't remember who we were playing when I scored that goal, but there was one of those typical goal-mouth scrambles that you get when you're playing boys' football. The ball was bouncing all over the place in the penalty area, it was a really messy situation, and I decided to throw myself at the ball. There was a crowd of players, and I went flying through the middle of them and made contact with my head. The ball flew off, and I was pretty pleased to see it hitting the back of the net.

I don't remember if I did any celebration at all. I think the tongue-poking-out goal celebration came much later. My parents would have told me off. That was the winning goal in that match.

 My favourite goal

It was a half volley against Vitesse, in my first season for Feyenoord. It was one of those shots that you hit and can go anywhere. It was a cold day, on a rock hard pitch and the ball had a bit of an unpredictable bounce, but this one went OK. I caught it just right and it went flying into the top corner, with the goalkeeper nowhere near it. Goals like that don't happen very often, normally there are defenders closing you down. But as that ball came across I knew I was going to strike it. Very satisfying.

Henrik, did you experience racism while you were growing up in Sweden?

Yes, in school I experienced some racism, because back then it was unusual to have a black kid at school, I was one of the few.

How did you feel?

At first I didn't understand what they meant because there were words I had never heard before. Then I started to understand what they were saying and I started to stand up for myself.

Is racism a big problem in Sweden?

I think that it is becoming better, because when I was young there was a lot of it, not only against black people but against foreigners who had come to Sweden to work, because they had trouble in their own countries. I think that it's about to change, I hope so.

Have any of you encountered racism in football?

You always have something, If somebody calls me a nigger I just shake my head. I look at him and say, you are not really right up here, to say something like that, it's crazy.

Do you have a message for Celtic fans?

Of course you can't like everybody, that's impossible; but in terms of colour, to not like somebody because he or she has a different skin - that's stupid. You have to look beyond that because as a human being you have to experience the person from the inside first.