Tag: Eriksson

Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson will fulfil a lifelong dream by managing Liverpool in a charity legends game against Ajax at Anfield next month.

Eriksson revealed in January he had “best case a year” to live after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

The 76-year-old Swede disclosed at the time his lifelong love for Liverpool and how he had always wished to be manager of the club one day.

Liverpool announced yesterday  that Eriksson, who guided England to the quarter-finals of the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, will be part of their management team for the match on March 23.

 “All connected with the club and LFC Foundation look forward to warmly welcoming LFC fan Sven and his family to Anfield – and seeing him in the dugout on the day – for a fantastic fundraising occasion,” Liverpool said in a statement.

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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp had previously said he was more than happy to hand Eriksson the reigns for a day at the club’s training ground.

 “Absolutely he’s very welcome to come here and he can sit in my seat in my office and do my job for a day if he wants. That’s no problem,” Klopp said shortly after Eriksson revealed his diagnosis.

“To have him here and show him everything and how this wonderful club developed over the years, I think that’s definitely something we will tell him.

 “He can come over and have a few wonderful hours here, I’m sure.”

Eriksson also won the UEFA Cup with IFK Gothenburg, three Portuguese titles at Benfica and Serie A crown with Lazio during a distinguished coaching career.

Former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson says he has “best case a year” to live after being diagnosed with cancer.

The 75-year-old Swede was the first foreign coach to manage England and led the side to the quarter-finals of the 2002 and 2006 World Cup and 2004 Euros.

“I’m going to resist for as long as I can,” Eriksson told Swedish Radio P1.”I have an illness that’s serious. Best case a year, I have worst case a lot less. It’s impossible to say exactly, so it’s better to not think about it.”

Eriksson, who had a 42-year career in management, learned of his cancer diagnosis “almost one year ago” and stood down from his most recent role as sporting director at Swedish club Karlstad 11 months ago because of health issues.

“I live a totally normal life,” Eriksson told BBC World Service’s Sporting Witness. “I’m not in hospital, I go now and then for a visit but I live at home and I have friends here. Christmas and New Year, the whole family were here – a lot of people.

“I’m going out to try and exercise as much as possible, which is less than it was one year ago, but I have a normal life.

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“When you get a message like that, you appreciate every day and you are happy when you wake up in the morning and you feel OK, so that’s what I’m doing.”

He continued: “I thought I was fully healthy but suddenly I had a small stroke so I fell and my children took me to the hospital.

“After one day of examination they told me I had five small strokes, but said ‘no problem, you will recover 100% from that’, but worse is they said I have cancer which they can’t operate on.

“They said they will give me treatment and medicine to try and live as long as possible. I have that diagnosis and they can’t operate, unfortunately.”

Eriksson began his managerial career with Degerfors in 1977 before joining fellow Swedish side Gothenburg, where he won the Swedish title, two Swedish cups and the 1981 UEFA Cup.

He then went on to enjoy two spells with Portuguese giants Benfica as well as Italian sides Roma, Fiorentina, Sampdoria and Lazio – where he won seven trophies including the Serie A title, two Italian Cups and the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.