Sven-Goran Eriksen says coaching Liverpool in a charity match at Anfield this weekend is “like a dream” as he admits it will be his last as a football manager.
The 76-year-old former England manager It was revealed earlier this year that he had terminal cancerwill be part of the Reds’ management team for the Legends’ game against Ajax.
In an interview with Sky News in January, Erikson Said he “always wanted to be the manager of Liverpool” and is a lifelong Liverpool fan.
and his wish came true follow one Activities initiated by club fans.
The Swede told a press conference ahead of a fundraiser for the Liverpool Foundation: “It’s like a dream.
“When I was a manager I always dreamed of Liverpool but it never happened.
“It was close, there was some discussion many years ago… it never happened. But now it has.
“When they asked, I thought it was a joke. I said of course, and then it was for charity, which was even more lovely.
“‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ is magical. I’m looking forward to it.
“I’m very honored and grateful to Liverpool for giving me this opportunity.
“I think it’s probably the best atmosphere in the world, of all the big football stadiums I’ve been to, and part of that is the songs that the players sing when they come out. The atmosphere is unbelievable.”
Eriksen says his love for Liverpool comes from his father’s support for the team.
He also said that around 1979, when he was a young coach in Sweden, he wrote to the club asking if he could come to watch training and received an invitation in return.
“I watched a game and some training and I was honored to be in the boot room. It was awesome, awesome,” he said.
“All the training sessions, they were one touch, two touch.
“The quality of play was incredible and the coach told me to ‘keep things simple’. Of course, I learned a lot.”
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Eriksen said his father’s interest in the Merseyside team remains strong, saying: “When Liverpool play, he doesn’t miss a game on TV. He called me the other day and said Because he couldn’t find the right channel.”
“The amazing thing is that the game will be live on Swedish TV, so he will see it.”
Eriksen will have former Liverpool players Ian Rush, John Barnes and John Aldridge alongside him in the dugout, having led a team that included Steven Gerrard and Fernando ·Torres.
Eriksen became England’s first foreign head coach when he took office in 2001, and subsequently led the team to two World Cups and one European Cup quarter-finals.
Ahead of his five-year tenure with England, Eriksen believes Southgate’s side have a “huge chance” of winning this summer’s European Championships in Germany, saying: “If you’re an England coach or Manager, this to me is the most important job you can ever have.
“We didn’t win anything, but I’m very proud and happy every day that I got this job because I know it’s one of the biggest football jobs in the world. It’s very special.”
Asked if he missed managing, the former Lazio, Manchester City and Leicester boss said: “I’d be lying if I said no. Of course you miss it.”
“But I realize I’ve reached a certain age. It doesn’t matter. What I do is what I do and I’m happy with it.
“Now that it’s all over, I think this will be the last game. So it’s awesome.”
Nearly 60,000 tickets have been sold for the Liverpool Football Club Foundation’s eighth annual match, which is set to see record attendance.
Previous competitions have raised more than £6.4 million for charity.
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