VIDAR Riseth has revealed how legendary striker Henrik Larsson pocketed £3,000 without kicking a ball when he scored for Celtic in their last League Cup final meeting with Aberdeen.

Larsson was sidelined for the meeting with the Pittodrie club at Hampden back in 2000 having suffered a double leg break in a UEFA Cup game against Lyon in France five months earlier.

However, the Swedish striker fancied his fellow Scandinavian Riseth to hit the target against their top flight rivals - even though he hadn't netted once all season.

And his hunch was proved correct as the Norwegian opened the scoring in the first half of a game which the Hoops ended up winning 2-0.

“Before kick-off Henrik came up to speak to me,” said Riseth. “He said: ‘Vidar, I’ve put £100 on you to score a goal’.

"I asked: ‘How much will you get back if I score?’ He told me: ‘About £3,000. You’re not a regular goalscorer’.

“I played at right back that day. But, sure enough, I got the first goal in the first half. Morten Wieghorst played the ball across to me, I burst into the penalty area and turned it in.

"It was a good moment. That was the only goal I scored in a cup competition during my time in Scotland.

“When the players went up to receive the trophy after the game I spotted Henrik in the stand. He screamed over to me: ‘I’m going to buy you a beer tonight my friend!’

"He had a good day even though he didn't play the game. He put £100 in and got £3,000 back.”

Kenny Dalglish was in the dugout that day having taken charge on a temporary basis when John Barnes was sacked after the Scottish Cup defeat to Inverness Caledonian Thistle the previous month.

The Celtic, Liverpool and Scotland legend would leave the Glasgow club at the end of that season when Martin O'Neill was appointed.

But Riseth revealed that he enjoyed working under Dalglish during the second half of the 1999/2000 season and stated that he was instrumental in that win over the Dons.

“Kenny had obviously been a really good player, but he was also a really good coach,” he said. “Everything changed in the dressing room because we had a big respect for Kenny. Everybody wanted to work for him.

“Under John, we played one touch football, like he had done at Liverpool in the old days. When Kenny took over he wanted the ball brought in front of the goal as quickly as possible. It was a really good time.

"He did an excellent job with the team and the players. He also brought Tommy Burns who did an excellent job on the training ground with us. We were very happy to win the final. It is a good memory.

“In my two years at Celtic I had Dr Jo Venglos, John Barnes, Kenny Dalglish and then, for a few months, Martin O’Neill as my manager

"I received offers during the Euro 2000 finals from Everton in England and 1860 Munich in Germany and signed for 1860.”

Now 44 and working as a sponsorship manager in his homeland, Riseth keeps an eye on how Celtic are faring and would put money on them enjoying another win over Aberdeen in the Betfred Cup final at Hampden tomorrow.

“I am really happy to see Celtic doing so well because I liked the club,” he said. “Winning the cup was a great moment for me and I hope the current team can enjoy that experience this weekend.”