Winters in Sweden makes people go crazy
Former Barcelona, Man Utd, Celtic, Feyenoord player Henrik Larsson, currently with Swedish team Helsingborgs IF and captain of the Sweden NT when Zlatan doesn't bother to show up, has changed sports, just like that. Since yesterday he is officially a member of FLOORBALL team FC Helsingborg.



I DONUT EVEN KNOW.

He played professional floorball in his teens, until football took up too much time. Way back in 1989 he played seven games in the top Swedish league and scored six goals.

You don't know floorball? You've been missing out! Man, back in school it was the only thing I did in PE. You just run after a ball with a stick. Simple as that. It's pretty much only played in Sweden/Scandinavia.

Rumours have been flying around for a while and for a few weeks he's been training with the team, and now he's cleared for play in the league, maybe as soon as on Sunday. EVERYBODY IS GOING "WHAAAAAAAAT?!"

The floorball community is torn, half of it is happy someone so known and respected as an athlete is coming to give the sport a little more attention in the media, maybe selling more tickets. But there's some who aren't so happy about the biggest player being someone who only plays floorball as a hobby, Henrik himself has been very clear that football is still his profession.

He said in an interview that he's very rusty with the stick but the general theory and practice of the game is there. His new coach says pretty much the same, that he has brain for seeing playable options and knowing where to run on the floor even if he's not got the fluidity of the more used players.

Mostly Henrik's been very humble and saying that if he plays he'll be just another member and that he'll listen to his new team mates and that people shouldn't expect too much.

So what of his football career? Well, rumours are flying there too. Basically, it's up to him. He's playing for HIF 'cos he's supposedly at the end of it, but he hates long pre-seasons, hence that WTF loan to Man Utd a few years back. He's had offers from a few European clubs, I think Feyenoord was the one mostly mentioned, but now he's got the floorball to keep fit. He hasn't even confirmed playing with HIF next season...

ANYWAY, THIS IS JUST A SWEDE FREAKING OUT AND GOING, 'DEAR LORD! I ACTUALLY HAVE A CHANNEL THAT SHOWS FLOORBALL!'

Here's a vid of Henke in practice and an interview with that awfully hideous accent.



Sources: In Spanish, here or here with video. In Swedish: here, here or why not here with video interview. No English sources yet, sorry.





And if you made it all this way you probably know me and accept my completely OT squee at Alexis being called up for Valencia's game tomorrow. I love him.