“They’ve Signed Hundreds Since… But Celtic Fans Still Compare Everyone to HIM” Kris Sutton admitted

Chris Sutton has openly admitted what Celtic fans have felt for more than two decades: no striker who has arrived at Parkhead since has escaped comparison with Henrik Larsson. Speaking with rare blunt honesty, the former Celtic forward stated that Larsson remains the measuring stick for every attacking signing, regardless of era, system or price tag

Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton says every forward signed by the club continues to be judged against the same reference point, more than 20 years after his departure: Henrik Larsson

“They’ve signed hundreds since,” Sutton said, “but Celtic fans still compare everyone to him.”

It is an admission that reflects a long-held belief among the Celtic support and one that has reignited discussion about Larsson’s enduring influence on the club.

Larsson joined Celtic in 1997 and went on to score 242 goals in 315 appearances, helping deliver multiple league titles and domestic cups during a period that restored belief at Celtic Park. While the statistics are formidable, Sutton insists it was the totality of Larsson’s contribution that set him apart.

“People talk about the numbers, and rightly so,” Sutton added. “But it was the movement, the intelligence, the work rate, the big moments. When pressure came, he didn’t shrink. He thrived.”

Sutton, who formed a prolific partnership with Larsson under Martin O’Neill, said the Swede created a sense of inevitability that supporters have not felt since.“When he went through one on one, the stadium relaxed,” he said. “That’s a rare thing. It tells you the level of trust the crowd had.”

Fans Reactions online

The comments prompted a strong response from Celtic supporters, many of whom echoed Sutton’s assessment. Writing on social media.

@GreenBrigade77 said: “Every striker since has been judged harshly, but that’s because Larsson set standards that were unreal.”

@ParadiseForever, added: “It’s not nostalgia. He really was that good.”

Sutton acknowledged that modern players often face unfair comparisons, but believes it is unavoidable. “If you play up front for Celtic, history comes with the shirt,” he said. “Larsson defined what excellence looked like here.”

That definition has endured across generations. Younger supporters who never saw Larsson play live continue to celebrate his goals and moments, while older fans speak of him with reverence.

@CelticDad1988 wrote: “My son never watched him live, but he knows every chant and every goal. That says everything.”

Larsson’s legacy was further strengthened by his success after leaving Glasgow. His role in Barcelona’s Champions League final victory in 2006, scoring twice after coming on as a substitute, confirmed his standing as a world-class forward. Sutton believes that achievement validated Celtic fans’ long-held view.

“When he went on to do it at the very top level, it just reinforced what people here already knew,” Sutton said.

 @EuroHoops agreed: “Seeing him do it in a Champions League final only proved we weren’t exaggerating. He was elite.”

Despite Celtic’s continued domestic success and the emergence of effective forwards in the years since, Sutton maintains that Larsson remains unique. “There have been good strikers, some very good ones,” he said. “But that combination of goals, humility, big-game influence and connection with the fans is incredibly rare.”

@HoopsHistory, highlighted the psychological effect Larsson had on opponents. “Teams feared him before kick-off,” the fan wrote. “You could sense it. That alone gave Celtic an edge.”

Sutton stopped short of suggesting that Larsson’s record will never be matched, but admitted the bar is exceptionally high. “Someone might come along one day,” he said. “But they’d need to deliver over years, not months, and in the biggest moments. That’s the challenge.”

For many supporters, the comparison is less about criticism of current players and more about appreciation of a defining era.

@LisbonToSeville commented: “Larsson didn’t just score goals. He made us believe again.”

As Celtic continue to evolve under new managers and new squads, Sutton’s remarks serve as a reminder of how deeply one player can shape a club’s identity. The standards set during Larsson’s time still inform expectations today.

They have signed hundreds since his departure. But as Sutton’s comments and the fan reaction underline, Henrik Larsson remains the benchmark by which all others are measured.