Henrik Larsson plays a different game

With Man U on their way to a possible European Final after their 7-1 demolition of Roma, I wonder is footballer Henrik Larsson regretting the move back to Sweden. Currently Swedish club Helsingborg lie 6th in the League on goal difference after losing one game and winning one game.

He’s gone from one of the biggest, best supported clubs, in one of the most famous leagues in the world, with an average gate of around 75,000 to an average gate of 12,000 and a league generally unknown outside of Scandinavia.
He’s gone from playing with equally skilled footballers providing the outstanding support all strikers need, to a team where he’s the star expected to support less talented players. All of this with less pay, as Helsingborg can’t afford to pay the same salary as the major clubs.

Larsson has always done his own thing however. He spent 7 years with Celtic in a very uncompetitive league when some of the biggest clubs in the world were constantly looking for him.

Given a footballer’s career is usually so short, with many footballers known for their excesses and willingness to move clubs, Larsson is unusual. He must be very disciplined and self motivated to go against the normal behaviours in the football world. Many press commentators have criticised him for not “proving himself” on a bigger stage.
However even at 35 his short stint with Man Utd. proved he was well able to play for the biggest clubs.

Larsson is a good example of how different career paths suit different people. There is no one right career track for every person. What suits one person may not suit another. We each need the self belief and willingness to go against expectations and to find our own preferred way to enjoy our work.

You might enjoy a short video (4 minutes) on the importance of enjoying work. Unfortunately you’ll need broadband so apologies to those of you who still have to use dial up. Click here to start film on external web site

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