Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Walker

Henrik Larsson and the striking Celtic vs Rangers transfer pitch to star who still gets 'w*****' jibe in Glasgow

Johan Mjallby has revealed he was once welcomed by Henrik Larsson to Celtic by explaining to him the Old Firm clubs are like 'two great white sharks fighting in a goldfish bowl’.

Mjallby spent six successful years at Celtic and later went on to be an assistant manager at the club for another four years until he left nine years ago. He was persuaded to join Celtic in 1998 – just one year after countryman and future Hoops icon Larsson moved to Glasgow too.

And Mjallby, who later went on to manage Swedish teams Vasteras and Gefle, recalled the shock he got when he first experienced the Old Firm and how he still feels it today. He said: "I was used to the city rivalry in Stockholm between my club AIK and Djurgarden and Hammarby, but this was something completely different when I signed for Celtic. Henrik persuaded me to sign and explained the rivalry between Celtic and Rangers.

Celtic striker Henrik Larsson pictured during his Parkhead playing days in August 2000 (Daily Record)

"He told me I was signing for a big club that plays in Europe every year and I had to understand the environment where it was World War 3 if we didn't win every single game. He advised me that Rangers were also huge. I'll never forget what he said to me – he told me Celtic and Rangers are like two great white sharks fighting in a goldfish bowl.

"He was bang on. Within two weeks, I was playing against Rangers and Henrik just told me to go out and play my usual game. Glasgow still holds an extremely warm place in my heart to this day. I am still recognised on the street when I return and the reactions are always the same. I either get people running up to me and wanting autographs and pictures or they raise their middle finger and call me a f***ing w***er."

Follow Record Sport on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond. You can also follow our dedicated Rangers and Celtic podcast pages and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season.

READ NEXT

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.