CELTIC legend Henrik Larsson has explained why he turned down the opportunity to become manager of the Parkhead club.

After Neil Lennon left the role in May 2014 and was succeeded by Ronny Deila, Larsson was asked totake over at Celtic Park - but the former Swedish internationalist rejected the proposal.

In an interview with his former Celtic team-mate Chris Sutton in the Daily Mail, the former Feyenoord, Barcelona and Manchester United striker revealed why he felt he could not accept the Scottish champions' offer.

Glasgow Times:

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When asked by Sutton if he felt that it would be difficult to accept the job offer, Larsson said: "I would have to agree. I was offered the Celtic job once, around 2015.

"I was manager of Falkenberg. I had a meeting with the owner and another member of the board, and they wanted me.

"But I saw some things. I asked them a few questions about different things and I wasn't really pleased with the answers I got."

Larsson was recently close to taking over at English League One outfit Southend United and has been out of management since leaving boyhood club Helsingborg earlier this year.

And while the 48-year-old is keen to return to the dugout, Larsson insisted that he would only say yes to the right opportunity.

"The thing is, even though I played at a certain level, in order to come in to the English system, you have to start somewhere," he said. "I'm realistic enough to know I won't be offered a Premier League club, or even a Championship club.

"The longer you're out of football, the more difficult it is to get back in. You've forgotten quite quickly. I'm not a guy who does interviews, or television, or, as we say in Swedish, 'natverk' [network], so you meet people who know people who have influence in clubs. 

Glasgow Times:

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"In Sweden, I've been more or less offered jobs. This [the approach from Southend] was the first proper job interview I've had, and we were agreed, 100 per cent. Then Tommy [Johnson, the former Celtic striker swho was going to be part of Larsson's management team at Southend] called me, said he was sorry but he had another offer. Obviously I wasn't very pleased.

"In Sweden, no. In Scandinavia, no. As a player, I played at the highest level, and I want to see if it is possible to reach that as a manager. Why England? It's the culture, the love of the game. But I can accept that the owners in the Premier League don't want me as their manager. I can accept that. I'm not afraid. I believe in myself. I don't need to work a day more in my life, but I love the game."