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‘Henke’ Larsson to quit professional football

Swedish football legend Henrik Larsson has announced he is retiring from professional football at the conclusion of the current season.

'Henke' Larsson to quit professional football

“I know now that I’m 100 percent sure about my decision to quit,” Larsson said in a statement.

“I’m 38-years-old now and that’s long enough.”

Larsson had already announced his career with Sweden’s national side was over after the team crashed out of World Cup qualification last week.

But it took a few more days for him to conclude it was time to end his professional career as well.

Larsson, who currently plays with Helsingborg IF (HIF) in Sweden’s top league, will lace up his boots for the last time when his squad takes on Elsfborg in an away match on November 1st.

“Henrik Larsson has informed HIF that he will retire as a football player

after this season,” Helsingborg said in a statement on its website.

One of the most successful and well-known Swedish football players of modern times, Larsson launched his international career in 1993 with the Dutch club Feyenoord. He then helped Scottish club Celtic to four league titles and took part in Barcelona’s two league championships in 2005 and 2006 before returning to his home Swedish club in Helsingborg.

He also played several matches for Manchester United in 2007 while on loan from HIF.

Larsson’s debut for the Swedish national team came in 1993, a squad which went on to reach third place in the 1994 World Cup.

Over the course of his career, Larsson has racked up 106 caps and 37 goals. He also scored goals in three separate World Cups.

The beloved footballer, who also spent time last year playing for Helsingborg’s floorball team, gave no immediate clues about his future plans.

“I’m going to have a think about what I’m going to do. First and foremost I need time to get used to life after football.”

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RACISM

VIDEO: Spain’s La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

Spain's La Liga on Monday said it was reviewing a video of a child making racist insults towards Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during the 2-2 draw with Valencia at the weekend.

VIDEO: Spain's La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

“We’re in the process of studying and analysing the facts from a legal standpoint to see what we can and should do,” La Liga sources said.

In a video published by a journalist for ESPN Brasil, and picked up by Spanish media, a boy sitting in a woman’s lap can be heard calling Vinicius a “monkey”.

The Brazilian scored twice for Madrid as his team recovered from two goals down at Mestalla on Saturday.

Vinicius raised his fist in a “Black Power” salute after the first of his two goals at a ground where he was racially abused last season. Valencia subsequently banned three people from the stadium for life.

The 23-year-old has become a symbol of the fight against discrimination in Spanish football after suffering racist abuse on many occasions, and he was jeered repeatedly by home supporters on Saturday.

Jude Bellingham was sent off after the final whistle against Valencia for protesting after the referee blew the final whistle right before the England midfielder headed home what he thought was the winning goal.

READ ALSO: Football star Vinicius highlights racist behaviour from Spanish fans

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