Henrik the Great bids Celtic goodbye with trademark double

Celtic 2 Dundee Utd 1

After a sparkling seven-year stint as Celtic star striker, it looked like a final day of frustration as he squandered a throne-full of chances.

But after his team-mates had done everything but put the ball in the net for him, he pounced twice in the last nine minutes to take his Bank of Scotland Premier League tally to 30, before the visitors scored a late Mark Wilson penalty.

There was a carnival atmosphere at Parkhead with the championship trophy presentation and dramatic last-gasp victory over Rangers still fresh in the memory.

An emotional Larsson was left in tears as he said goodbye to Parkhead.

Larsson, renowned for his ice-cool temperament, broke into tears as he left the Parkhead pitch for the final time.

He said: "I can't even speak. It was been a fantastic few years. The fans have been tremendous through the years and it is great to have been part of something so special like this.

"I started swinging at everything today at one stage but, fortunately, I got the first one through a great ball from Alan Thompson. The second one was a great ball from Didier Agathe and, once I got the first, I wasn't going to miss the second.

"It has been fantastic and, once the gaffer (Martin O'Neill) came up, things started to go forward and happen. It has been a pleasure to be at a club like this."

But Larsson credited Celtic manager Martin O'Neill for making the last four seasons extra special for the striker.

"I'm going to miss this but, as I have said many times, it is time for me to go. My whole career here has been brilliant. We have had our ups and downs but the last four years have been tremendous."

Celtic boss O'Neill has become renowned for superlatives but his praise for Larsson was worthy after scoring 240 goals for the club.

O'Neill said: "He was saying it was a privilege to be here but the privilege is all ours. He is absolutely fantastic sensational, sensational, sensational from a sensational player."

"It was very emotional but it was a fantastic end to a fantastic time here. He is a wonderful, wonderful player.

"You always think he is capable of scoring and, in the air, he is absolutely sensational," said O'Neill.

CELTIC: Marshall, Balde, Varga, McNamara, Agathe, Lennon, Petrov, Pearson, Thompson (Wallace 87), Larsson, Sutton.

DUNDEE UTD: Gallacher, Innes, McCracken, Archibald, Wilson, Kerr, Miller, Easton (Holmes 84), Robson, Samuel (James Paterson 74), Scotland (Scott Paterson 90).

Referee: J Underhill (Scotland).