Europe's news in English

COPY LINK

CELTIC

Larsson cools talk of Celtic switch

Henrik Larsson, the former Sweden and Celtic striker, has played down talk linking him to the vacant manager's position at the Glasgow club.

Published: 7 April 2010 11:54 CEST

Larsson cools talk of Celtic switch

The Swede, who is currently boss of Swedish side BOIS Landskrona, has been tipped as one of the candidates for the job after Tony Mowbray’s exit.

But he said that now was not the right time for a return.

“I will always be connected with that Celtic job. It doesn’t matter what I say, it’s a great honour to be connected with that job,” he told the Scottish Daily Mail.

“But I don’t think it’s fair to speak about another man’s job, either, and that is why I have refused to say too much.”

“The future will tell if it will be or not.”

The job is currently being filled by former team-mate Neil Lennon on an interim basis, with fellow Swede Johan Mjällby as his assistant.

And Larsson believes, if he can deliver silverware this season, the former skipper will land the role for good.

“If Lenny wins the Scottish Cup, then the job is in his hands and it’s great for him.”

“I feel for sure he is going to do it. Both he and Johan Mjällby know what it means to play for Celtic and I’m sure he is going to instil that into the players.”

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.

Become a Member to leave a comment.

Why is Baden-Württemberg counting on the Celts to provide a tourism boost?

A reconstructed Celtic hill grave in Eberdingen, Baden-Württemberg. Photo: DPA

Their kind haven’t been seen in Germany for at least two thousand years. Their chariots can’t be heard rumbling in the distance. Neither do we see them in their woven finery, fastened with gold and bronze, clutching swords.

So why is the German state of Baden-Württemberg counting on the Celts to provide a tourist boost in times of the coronavirus?

READ ALSO: Celtic tomb hailed as great architectural find

Beginning in 2019, Baden-Württemberg’s state government unveiled a new cultural policy, 'Baden-Württemberg & its Celts’, that would inject millions into a network of museums and cultural sites, dedicated to bringing the world of the Celts to life.

The sun sets behind a reconstructed hill grave in Eberdingen on July 10th. Photo: DPA

At the time, State President, Winfried Kretschmann was quoted as saying, “The special historical relationship of today's Baden-Württemberg to the Celts should be made more visible in the state and made emotionally tangible for people’.

This year the ‘Keltenland’ project has been unveiled, incorporating the massive redevelopment of sites such as the ‘lost city’ of Heuneburg near Sigmaringen. and the ‘princely grave’ of Hochdorf, near Ludwigsburg, as well as the establishment of several traveling exhibitions and cultural events.

READ ALSO: Irish in Germany: How many are there and where do they live?

‘Why now?’, you might ask. The answer lies in the significant discoveries made in the past decade – chiefly the aforementioned Heuneburg.

Rather than the lovably roguish warriors of ‘Asterix and Obelix’, artefacts taken from the Heuneburg revealed that the Celts who settled throughout the region created an advanced trading network.

This network brought goods into the region from throughout the Mediterranean world, in exchange for a variety of their handwork sent south. Combined with aerial photography and ground-scanning, these artefacts lead archaeologists to suggest that the Heuneburg could be considered the first ‘city’ north of the Alps.

Fortifications across the state also show that these Celts had a complex society that necessitated massive construction. The Ipf, near Bopfingen, and the Heidengraben near Grabenstetten demonstrate the ability of these local Celts to create massive earthworks that served as defensible bastions, and demonstrations of their power.

A silver ring from Trichtingen hangs in the Landesmuseum Württemberg as part of a Celtic exhibit. Photo: DPA

Finally, grave goods discovered at locations such as Hochdorf and Nagold showcase the Celt’s ability to create stunning works of jewelry from gold and other metals.

In particular, the Hochdorf site contains such a diverse range of complex, crafted goods as to blow apart conceived notions of the ‘Celts’ as barbarians and subsistence farmers. Rather, they strike experts of the period as some of the first ‘modern’ Europeans.

As the year progresses, and the country emerges further from the coronavirus lockdown, more about the ‘Keltenland’ initiative will be unveiled to the public.

As one of the largest cultural heritage projects currently active in Europe, many will be watching to see whether showcasing the world of the distant past will be enough to attract visitors to spend their money.

Url copied to clipboard!