A Tribute to Sven-Göran Eriksson (1948 - 2024)

hi and welcome to the fbal channel I'm your host Marcus fof and as always joined by co-host Yan fof and we're starting this episode on a more of a somber note because over the weekend former manager former player and enjoyer of life I'd say is come readily apparent through the various tributes from various players and colleagues and what have you in Sven yuran Erikson the Swede who retired at the age of 27 went on to have an illustrious managerial career uh won the Ser with Lao won seven titles with with lzo there it's been in fantina Roma has been in numerous other places and also the first non-english manager of the national team that as we have seen the various tributes pour in and uh I guess the key words have been the grace the the class the kindness and and in the intelligence of course of of this man what are some of the main things that have have stuck to you over over over the last days with with with what has happened it was very sad news and I think that the main sad news was about a year ago when he said that he had one year left and he made a lot of great interviews and I think the essence the the story the message of in all of the interviews was the things you you were saying Marcus this is a Scandinavian coach that took Scandinavian out in the world he started in SW Sweden being influenced by huon and Hudson Roy Hudson they they came to Scandinavia to Sweden and he kind of built up that Scandinavian way and then from then on he was a global coach and one of the greatest around not only he had 18 trophies I think but he could have had more in terms of being the one he was you were saying lasto sdor Benfica and he should have maybe won the title with England as well how I know him is through his assistant coach Todd grip who was my national coach and um we we we had some time to spend with him Marcus and I I didn't know him well but like in football you meet up and I will tell you we'll tell about those meeting afterwards but I think what we have asked we have asked Adrian Bevington a good friend of mine who maybe the one who worked most closely with him as a chief as a boss at the English FA he worked with him for over six years so I asked him to send us a message about Sven yuran Erikson or svenes as he was called here in Scandinavia I worked with svor and Ericson for the best part of six years from his arrival as England manager in late 2000 all the way through to the World Cup in Germany in 2006 throughout that time I was astounded by his capability to remain calm con consistent and always impeccably polite with his behavior at all times despite the incredible pressure that he was put under the microscope the medeor intrusion uh managing a team of real big Global Superstars at Big tournaments he never changed in how he behaved and that is something that I'll always think of with Sven but more so anyone who knew him closely will always think about the brilliant sense of humor that he had he didn't take things too seriously he always saw things on the positive rather than the negative side and he had a he loved a he loved a joke at the end of the evening he did love a glass of red wine and a chat with his colleagues and he he empowered people he didn't try to dictate policy he would always um listen to what other people had to say he'd make decisions in the end on the football side but he was always someone who empowered people to get on with their jobs and he kept words to a minimum he spoke quietly he was so well respected wherever he traveled he wanted to understand so much more about other people and the cultures from all around the world he was for me a wonderful England coach and we can all discuss and debate the Tactical formations of whether you know he could have done different things with the Midfield with England or was it the right overall formation but he was so so close in reality you know I I I still think in 2002 against Brazil when Ronaldinho scored the the the long range effort against David Seaman uh if that doesn't go H go in and it's 1-1 for a long period of time with them having 10 men you know doy knock a Brazil team out that had Rivaldo Ronaldo and Ronaldinho with kafu uh and Roberto caros at fullback it wasn't impossible I don't think we were really ready then but we were so ready in 2004 and he had a lot of confidence built at that stage and had Wayne Rooney not broke his foot in the quarterfinal when we were leading 1- nil England in my opinion go on and win that tournament there was so much confidence in that group and he allowed that confidence to grow and breathe from what was originally a very young team that he inherited Germany was a disappointment in 2006 and obviously that was the end of sven's Reign but I maintained a great friendship with him throughout the rest of his life and he's someone that I will always remember so positively with a great smile with a great passion for football and for being a lovely person a wonderful man all right peace Fen you'll always be greatly remembered take care and that was Adrien Bevington uh some lovely words on un lovely man and obviously we don't know him and you've come across him and and I've come across him as as a young young kid but what I found myself and without making about us but what I found very um clear in the previous encounters with people who knew him better was his ability to make people seen as if when you were in his company that that was his focus and he paid that attention I remember that as a 10 to 11 year old kid even getting that sense then and as a 10 11 year old you're I don't think you're the most in reflective of States you're not thinking of those things but I did remember it back then because I thought as a kid England manager what have what have you and then being around someone like that it was I remember even back looking back and thinking the fact that he took time to someone like me who we didn't have to or for others and I think that is so telling of a man's character and and and generosity as such and that's why we wanted to do this short episode about Sor and Erics and Marcus because in some way he was a role model he should have be a role model for all of us yes he was a great coach yes he had some great ideas uh and as Adrian was talking about the fantastic humor a bit of Swedish kind of English kind of shy kind of humble humor if you understand what I mean the players loved him unfortunately I never had a chance to to be a player under him but he was one of those guys and he was a Scandinavian who kind of um adjusted to the European way I remember some years ago there was a delegation of Norwegian coaches I think they were going to to was it fantina was it fantina it was at that stage and um they were they were they were looking at the game and Norwegian coaches you know all about develop players all about giving them an environment to develop them that's that's the Scandinavian way and that's the Swedish way that send was a part of so after the game they they had a meeting that the right back had a terrible game and they they went over to swen and they they met him afterwards probably for a good red wine as Adrian was talking about because he was a life lover so to say and um they asked him what are you going to do if it doesn't work out with that uh right back and swen just took a sip of his red bne and looked at him and said I buy a new one and so he was he was partly that Scandinavian why and Adan was talking about his tactics and everything because sometimes he was criticized for that because he came from the the Bob huon Roy Hudson school which was quite strict in terms of not very in not in Innovative no what do you say Innovations in in in his game he was also criticized for that for England because he took over also referring to to Aden a very young team had some Global stars in there that he had to handle but his manh handling was fantastic and and I think Marcus both of us what you talking about I remember uh this is around 2005 I met him for the first time I was retired I was three years retired Todd grip organized so I can get into the England uh training I was following their training first one who comes over over is Sven and Sven comes over to me as a nobody Norwegian and he said I know you so he he was like he was and I felt that he was I was the most important man in the world in those 10 seconds or or or or the chat we had together and and and then next time we met T Marcus was some months later where you were able to toh go to your big favorite David Beckham and Michael Lin turn off way Rooney turn off and again at Old Trafford and uh but if you were in the if you were in the if you were at home now in the studio and behind the shirts that you have you could have revealed it and there actually there are the the collection of pictures wherein which I'm standing with him amongst the other players that you mentioned yeah exactly you got a photo with him and he was as kind as you could be and I think that again a tribute to the man a tribute to the personality he he made you feel very important he made me feel very important every human being that he met he he felt he he made him feel important and I think that is a tribute we want to send out here Marcus as a role model I wish I was like that I'm not like that I try but I'm I'm not good enough you are the same Marcus you thank God more from your mother than from your father in terms of but to be present to be there for them and and the the the one we remember when um Bor this is in 2006 I think they play Stoya bucharesti if I'm not completely wrong when I went all the way to the final and and S uran was there England manager was so many he was under pressure as they Adrian was saying he was under pressure all the time and and we talked with him we were in the VIP or or the boardroom at midb and I remember a small thing and iess I guess I've seen all the players of had him I've seen all the stories they're telling about swen that that was very typical for him uh I remember when we were supposed to go you were 12 uh I was standing there I Norwegian talk Swedish and and then I said uh we were both going to leave and you said you had to go to the toilet and I said to Sven yeah it was great to meet you uh Marcus is going to the toilet so I I just wait for him you went to the toilet and I I was waiting outside the door and you came back and then we come back SW yuran was standing there and I said are you still here and he said of course I I was waiting for you guys we go out and so it was F of senior and F of Junior and he the England coach met maybe the most prolific football personality uh standing there waiting for two people who will now uh 18 years later memorize that as a great day and I think that this is a praise to a man who all his life got every human being to feel that way and I think that is the greatest tribute that can be to anyone his man management as we've seen all all the players I've talked to about Sor and Erikson there's nobody who will kind of talk him about him in a in a bad way so um or condol condolences to to his family of course but uh I think uh if this was on a football pitch we will kind of clap now for one minute because he's been one of the greatest personalities greatest human being that's been in our football at least in our generation absolutely world class he fell asleep peacefully outside uh his home in in sunna um and yes as after knowing he had a fatal illness what a tribute it was and on an ending note that is how you kind of ideally want any Legend or anyone to be sent off is that people are able to express their appreciation and love for you before you pass away rather than after and he got that and so welld deserved as such so and and one and one thing just at the end Mark is a big praise to Liverpool Football Club when soran came out and said there is one Club I would have love to manage in my life Liverpool Football Club then Liverpool Football Club in that Legend game invited him to to anfield I saw the photos the videos yesterday when he came on to the pitch he was well received by the Cup by the Liverpool fans so a fantastic um praise to the Liverpool Football Club the Liverpool fans who gave him that last wish to fulfill it for him so rest in peace Sor and I I Know that heaven has got a great coach and there will be a good team up there and they will probably all have a red line at the end