Long-serving coach Sven-Göran Eriksson is now facing death. But Liverpool FC will still grant him one heartfelt wish – this weekend
When big clubs invite players to legends matches, they sometimes feature names that fans of FC Bayern Munich, Manchester United or Real Madrid hardly remember – players who may not have played a major role in the past, but who have remained loyal to the club and reasonably fit. When Liverpool’s legends take on Ajax Amsterdam this weekend (Saturday, 4pm), the Reds will even be coached by someone who has never worked at Anfield Road.
Sven-Göran Eriksson, who once enjoyed great success at Lazio Roma and coached the England national team between 2001 and 2006, is probably entering the last year of his life, as he announced in January. The 76-year-old Swede is seriously ill with pancreatic cancer. In the face of his death, the popular figure made another wish that will actually come true
An office is at Eriksson’s disposal
Eriksson, who also coached Manchester City and Leicester City in England, revealed a few weeks ago that he was a lifelong Liverpool FC fan and regretted never having coached the Reds. “It’s definitely not going to happen again,” he grumbled. This brought Jürgen Klopp, who will leave LFC in the summer, onto the scene.
Initially, the German offered the Swede the chance to lead a training session and take a day in his office. But the Liverpool coaching legend said it would be difficult to stand on the touchline. However, the legends’ game at Anfield on Saturday, which is first and foremost about having fun, has solved this problem. Eriksson will have his big wish fulfilled
Jerzy Dudek, Sami Hyypiä, Dirk Kuyt and Fernando Torres are all part of the selection that Eriksson will lead this weekend – and the backdrop is also worthy. Well over 50,000 tickets have already been sold for a truly special afternoon. Incidentally, the proceeds will benefit local charities.
“I think it’s going to be wonderful and exciting,” Eriksson told the official Swedish Liverpool fan club. “I feel incredibly honored and can’t wait to lead the team onto the pitch to ‘You’ll never walk alone’. “
