PHOTO: Bildbyrån + TT Nyhetsbyrån
Sven-Göran Eriksson is praised by the entire football world.
But there was also a time when he had to receive criticism and hatred.
– It was a bit silly, “Svennis” admits to Expressen.
During the weekend that was got Sven-Göran Eriksson his dream fulfilled when he got to lead favorite team Liverpool in an exhibition match. A packed Anfield sang “You’ll never walk alone” for the Swedish coaching icon and received a standing ovation.
Hatred of Svennis
“Svennis” has had to receive the praises of the entire football world since the announcement that he suffered from incurable cancer and at best has a year left to live. Many Englishmen have also realized that they were far too harsh on the Swede, who had to receive both criticism and hatred during his time as England captain.
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The long-time football reporter Martin Lipton remembers how Eriksson was heavily exposed in the English media and “Sven was always a gentleman even during the times when he had to deal with the loudest and most critical journalists”.
– The truth is also that, as everything developed, he did a much better job than we gave him credit for during his time as national team captain, says the Englishman to Expressen.
Beloved in England
But Svennis does not want to stay in the bad and answers in the best way about the hatred he had to endure in England.
– It was a bit silly at times, but I had a lot of supporters then too, so it’s always fun to come back to England, he says to the evening newspaper and appreciates all the nice words he received from his second homeland in the British Isles.
– I am extremely happy, and am so lucky that everything that I have done well, is celebrated now that I am still alive. It is not normal. You have to die and go to your own funeral before people can tell you how good you were.
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David Daviesformer head of communications for the English Football Association (FA), is not at all surprised at how popular Svennis still is in England.
– There was a time when Sven was one of England’s most loved men, if not England’s most popular man. I remember that Sven was criticized by English journalists for leaving league matches before the final whistle. He was there watching potential internationals, but the reporters thought he was lazy when he left early. The truth is, I was nagging him to leave before the ref blew so we could get to our car before all the fans surrounded him. He talked to everyone and gave everyone time, so we never got out of there, says the Englishman to the newspaper.
– And it never mattered even if we left early because he always got stuck with some supporter on the way out, which Sven treated with respect. So Sven was criticized for going home, but he actually stayed at the arena and talked to supporters for a long time.
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READ MORE: When “Svennis” named his dream eleven for the whole of England – the Swede’s participation makes everyone drop their jaws
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