Former England Manager Sven-Goran Eriksson Hopes to Watch England vs Brazil and Opens up about Unfulfilled Career Wish

Terminally-ill former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has expressed his desire to watch the England national team go up against Brazil. Eriksson, who is suffering from pancreatic cancer and has about a year left to live, hopes to be well enough to attend the game at Wembley on 23rd March. Speaking with Sky News‘ Niall Paterson, he shared that his wish for the time he has left is to not experience too much pain and to travel and watch plenty of football.

Reflecting on his current health condition, Eriksson emphasized the value of waking up without pain, which is often taken for granted when one is healthy. It was after feeling dizzy and falling that his children took him to the hospital, where he was informed about the small stroke he had suffered, as well as his cancer diagnosis.

The former manager, known for his five-year stint as England boss, looks back on his time with the national team with a slight sense of disappointment. Despite reaching three consecutive quarter-finals in major tournaments, Eriksson believed the team could have achieved more. Specifically, he wished they had gone further in the World Cup in 2002, 2004, and 2006.

When asked about any unfulfilled career aspirations, Eriksson revealed his desire to manage Liverpool. Being a lifelong Liverpool supporter, following in the footsteps of his father, he expressed that while becoming their manager was not in the cards for him, his fandom remains unwavering. Throughout his time as England manager, Eriksson had numerous interactions with Premier League clubs, notably Manchester United. He recalled engaging in heated conversations with former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson over the release of players for friendly matches.

Eriksson praised the talent of the “golden generation” of English footballers he worked with, including names like Wayne Rooney, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Rio Ferdinand, and Gary Neville. While that era did not reach a major final, he believes the current crop of players is a strong team and could potentially win Euro 2024.