Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter says his relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson grew stronger after he recommended Henrik Larrson to the Red Devils in 2007.

“He is one of these people that if you do something for him, he never forgets you,” Baxter says.

While coach at Swedish club Helsingborg, Baxter received a call from Ferguson to ask if he had any strikers because of injuries and suspension to his key players.

“When I was Helsingborg, Alex Ferguson called me to see if there were any strikers in Sweden who could help them out.

“So I suggested Henrik Larsson, and he asked whether I felt he could still do it,” says Baxter, who has led Chiefs to the Nedbank Cup Final and within touching distance of the League title.

“I said yes, they took Henrik, and the rest is history. They wanted to keep him there, but remember Henrik had promised his wife that he would enjoy his swan-song in Sweden, so he returned as planned.”

Larsson signed on loan at Manchester United from 1 January until 12 March 2007, coinciding with the Swedish League’s off season. He scored on debut against Aston Villa in the FA Cup Third Round at Old Trafford.

United were eager to extend the loan deal, but Larsson stuck to his promise to return to Sweden.

Still, Ferguson was full of praise for the striker, who scored three goals in 13 matches in all competitions during his three-month stay, saying at the time: “He’s been fantastic for us, his professionalism, his attitude; everything he’s done has been excellent.”

“We would love him to stay but, obviously, he has made his promise to his family and Helsingborg and I think we should respect that – but I would have done anything to keep him.”

“I knew him (Alex Ferguson) loosely before this time. But when Jim Lawler (a colleague and friend of Baxter’s) moved to work at United I had more contact with him.

“So since then I have had a lot more to do with him. [Laughing] Before then I was not sure if I should salute him and call him Sir Alex or Mr Ferguson,” joked Baxter.
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