Sven-Goran Eriksson, the former England manager, recently opened up about his life and career in a touching film set to be released on Amazon Prime. In the film, Eriksson reflects on his time in football and hopes to be remembered as a positive figure who gave his all. Despite battling cancer and being given a limited time to live, Eriksson remains optimistic and grateful for the experiences he had.
Eriksson’s tenure as England manager was marked by controversy, particularly regarding his personal life. His relationships with Italian lawyer Nancy Dell’Olio, Ulrika Jonsson, and Faria Alam attracted significant media attention. Eriksson acknowledges that his relationships were a part of his life, stating that “sex is one of many good things in life for all of us” and that he didn’t do anything criminal. Alam, who had a relationship with Eriksson while also involved with FA chief executive Mark Palios, claims she was used as a scapegoat by the FA and Eriksson encouraged her to sell her story for financial gain.
One of the most embarrassing moments in Eriksson’s career came when he was caught on tape by the News of the World’s Fake Sheikh, Mazher Mahmood. Eriksson was heard discussing Aston Villa’s potential sale and David Beckham’s return to England. As a result, the Football Association decided to replace Eriksson as England manager after the 2006 World Cup. Eriksson had asked the FA to delay the announcement of his successor until after the tournament, but his assistant Steve McClaren was named as his replacement a month before the World Cup began.
Eriksson also had clashes with Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, particularly regarding the fitness of Wayne Rooney. Rooney suffered metatarsal injuries in both the 2004 Euros and the 2006 World Cup, causing concern for both Eriksson and Ferguson. Eriksson describes Ferguson as a “strange man” who stops being a gentleman when Manchester United is involved. Despite the injuries, Eriksson defended Rooney and called him the “golden boy of English football” in his final press conference as England manager.
Outside of football, Eriksson’s life took a bizarre turn when he joined League Two club Notts County as director of football. The club was promised significant investment, but it turned out to be a major scam orchestrated by convicted fraudster Russell King. Eriksson also found himself embroiled in a scheme involving North Korea, where he was led to believe that his involvement would secure funding for Notts County. Eriksson describes being confined to a hotel guarded by armed men and being asked to ensure an easy group for North Korea in the 2010 World Cup. After resigning, Eriksson wrote off a significant amount of money owed to him by Notts County to help the club survive.
Despite the ups and downs of his career, Eriksson remains grateful for the opportunities he had and reflects on his life with a positive attitude. The film about Eriksson’s life serves as a reminder of the complexities and challenges faced by those in the world of football. It offers a deeper understanding of the man behind the headlines and highlights the resilience and determination required to navigate such a high-pressure environment.