Celtic enraged me with derisory offer to replace their best player – 'people will be crying tears of laughter'

"This shows what a loss he's going to be for us - he's a genius."

Alan Thompson, the man who created so many assists for Henrik Larsson, had one final remark to make about his legendary team-mate. Celtic supporters were basking in the glow of another trophy in the Martin O'Neill era as the Hoops hero said goodbye in the only way he knew how.

Larsson bagged a brace to sink Dunfermline 3-1 in the Scottish Cup Final, his last-ever appearance for Celtic in May 2004 after a wildly-successful seven-year stay in Glasgow. Two hundred and forty-two goals in 315 appearances - Larsson's storied Celtic run was over. But the tears that flowed after his final game at Parkhead against Dundee United were replaced by beaming smiles as the striker and his team-mates celebrated the Double.

Larsson said his goodbyes and headed for Barcelona after Frank Rijkaard convinced him on his Nou Camp rejuvenation project, with the Catalans falling behind Real Madrid and Valencia in La Liga pecking order. And the quest to find someone, somewhere, to replace Larsson, was well under way.

O'Neill was able to bring box-office signings during his time in Glasgow but most of his big-money arrivals happened in his first two seasons. The trio of Chris Sutton, John Hartson and Neil Lennon cost almost £20million between them. Those three players fit the Irishman's signing profile to a tee.

Tough, proven in the English Premiership and all itching to prove a point, O'Neill had the magic touch when it came to lighting a fire under his big-game hunters. But the rules had changed by the time of Larsson's emotional farewell. Celtic had one of the biggest budgets in British football and had been topping up their squad with the likes of Ulrik Laursen, Momo Sylla