Sven-Goran Eriksson had a twinkle in his eye that made him more than just a great manager
Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson was one of the game's greatest characters during his iconic career and the Swede will be remembered fondly after dying aged 76
Sven-Goran Eriksson deserves to be remembered as a terrific football manager.
But it is the sense of fun, the twinkle in his eye, which really defines him as one of the game’s greatest characters. And, believe me, that is also how he would want to be remembered. Laughter, jokes and personality.
My favourite Eriksson quote - and there are many to choose from - has to be: “Don’t be sorry, smile.”
That sums him up. And it fits perfectly into today because, looking back on his life, he had an absolute blast. He was 76 years young when he died.
Aged by the end by cancer, but still enjoying life to the full. I’m so happy that he got the love, the appreciation and the warmth he deserved while he was still alive. Sometimes it comes too late. But his decision to announce his terminal diagnosis meant that football came together - and few are loved as much as Sven was.
The tribute that Liverpool gave him by honouring his lifelong wish of managing a team at Anfield was just brilliant. But it also underlined how many people loved him. Football came together. And now the world is doing so to pay tribute.
I had the thrill of covering England throughout his reign. During that time, I was often on back page duty - and my word there were some headlines during his five years.
But that should not gloss over the fact that he delivered on the pitch. Amid everything else, Eriksson was a top, top manager. He managed some of Europe’s biggest clubs. Sampdoria, Lazio, Benfica and Roma to name just four.
He must have been pretty special to be the first foreign manager to take charge of England. Back then, 23 years ago, it was a different environment when arguably his biggest task was convincing the nay-sayers as much as doing the job.
But then he quickly won over the England fans. That famous 5-1 win over Germany in Munich. Even Heskey scored! David Beckham’s last gasp free kick at Old Trafford to seal England’s World Cup place. Let’s not lose sight of the fact here that Sven had some bloody good moments as England manager.
Eriksson was not exactly rent-a-quote. In fact, one of his standard phrases: “First half good, second half not so good…” That rather summed England under Sven… Halfway to being a really good football team.
He would work a room. There were a few parties and you could always see Sven… laughing, joking, charming, a roving eye. He was the life and soul of every party.
I chatted with Sven while he was managing in China. It was about how he got the job in the first place. I reminded him of how former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein was leading the FA’s search for a new manager in 2001 after Kevin Keegan had quit. Dein did not want to lose his own club manager Arsene Wenger ,so the joke was that he championed Eriksson instead. Sven laughed: “I can believe that!” But no matter how the call came, he was so grateful that it did.
Eriksson called it the biggest job in world football. He was in charge of the biggest star in world football in David Beckham. If you speak to players, they will tell you they loved him as a manager. A real man manager. That was his strength. You will not find many with a bad word to say.
I remember an informal lunch just after he got the job. He was so entertaining, so funny and one of the biggest names in England. He was invited to Downing Street and joked with then Prime Minister Tony Blair about the impossible job and who would get sacked first.
This is a man who never took life too seriously. But we should not overlook also how he was regarded in his native Sweden.
There is a fascination in Sweden about English football. The same throughout Scandinavia, really. I remember going to his hometown after he had been appointed and it was as if he was the king of the world.
That is how they view English football. It is how they loved Sven. And how they will always remember him. As footballing royalty. And their favourite son.
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