'Henrik was the main guy, I was the foil' - Sutton

144 matches, 109 wins, and six major trophies later, it's fair to say Chris Sutton got a fair bit more than he bargained for when he linked up with Henrik Larsson. Speaking to BBC Scotland for a new series of Icons of Football, with an episode centring on Larsson, the former Blackburn striker says the almost psychic-level or their play together wasn't an accident. "We did discuss it, but that understanding comes from training, it comes from playing, it comes from building that relationship," Sutton says.

When Chris Sutton first stepped onto the training pitch alongside Henrik Larsson at Celtic, even he couldn't have predicted the magic that was about to unfold. 144 matches, 109 wins, and six major trophies later, that partnership became the stuff of legend—a golden era that fans still dream of recreating.

In a recent episode of BBC Scotland's Icons of Football, Sutton opened up about the almost telepathic connection he shared with the Swedish striker. "We did discuss it, but that understanding comes from training, it comes from playing, it comes from building that relationship," he explained. "And then it's knowing what suits each other."

Sutton was refreshingly honest about his role in the duo. "Henrik was the main guy, I was the foil," he admitted. "He was quicker than me. Most people were quicker than me, in fairness, so I always had to have the awareness."

Their chemistry wasn't accidental—it was built on fundamentals. Sutton described their simple but devastating tactic: "If we were playing against a high line, I'd hold the ball and clip it in behind, and Henrik would already be on the move. As soon as the ball's on the way to me, I know that if I can help it into space, Henrik would be going."

The numbers tell the story. In those 144 matches together, Larsson scored an incredible 130 goals, while Sutton added 66 of his own. Each assisted the other 12 times—a testament to their unselfish partnership.

"That was our thing," Sutton said. "Always working hard to make sure we're within 10 or 15 yards of each other. Then it doesn't matter who the defenders are—you work little combinations and little moves."

For Sutton, who arrived at Celtic after a tough season at Chelsea, the connection with Larsson felt right from the start. "I did get a feeling early with Henrik that it would click," he recalled. "And we would work well with each other."

That feeling turned into one of football's most iconic partnerships—a reminder that sometimes, the best duos are built on hard work, awareness, and knowing exactly where your teammate will be.

'Henrik was the main guy, I was the foil' - Sutton

'Henrik was the main guy, I was the foil' - Sutton