10 months ago
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SVEN-GORAN ERIKSSON will coach Liverpool Legends at Anfield next month.
The former England manager, 76, was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer last month.
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AFPEriksson revealed that he has “at best a year to live” while speaking to Swedish radio station P1.
The Swede is a boyhood Liverpool fan, and will now get the opportunity to coach from the home dugout at Anfield.
He will join a star-studded coaching team featuring the likes of John Barnes and Ian Rush for a match against Ajax Legends on March 23.
Liverpool have confirmed that 100 per cent of proceeds from the match will go to their foundation and other charitable causes.
The full roster of players is yet to be confirmed.
But the Reds have so far announced that Jerzy Dudek, Sander Westerveld, Martin Skrtel, Fabio Aurelio, Gregory Vignal and Djibril Cisse will play – while Ryan Babel is set to feature for both sides.
The LFC Foundation will welcome Eriksson, as well as his family, to Anfield for the occasion.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp had plenty of kind words for Eriksson last month.
The German, 56, said: “It was obviously very touching news when you heard about it.
“I heard for the first time about his admiration or love for Liverpool and that he was a fan for his whole life. I heard now about the Legends [game] and stuff like that. I’m not in charge of that.
“The only thing I can say is absolutely he’s very welcome to come here and he can sit in my seat in my office and do my job for a day if he wants. That’s no problem.
“Being on the sideline might be a little bit more difficult. To have him here and show him everything and how this wonderful club developed over the years, I think that’s definitely something we will tell him.
“He can come over and have a few wonderful hours here, I’m sure.”
Eriksson was given a hero’s welcome at a gala in Sweden just days after revealing his illness.
The legendary former boss attended the event alongside partner Yaniseth Alcides, and daughter, Lina.
But you can trick your brain. See the positive in things, don’t wallow in adversity
Sven-Goran ErikssonHe has recently vowed to try to see the “positives” in life.
Eriksson said: “It is not good. Everyone guessed it’s cancer and it is. But I have to fight as long as I can.
“But you can trick your brain. See the positive in things, don’t wallow in adversity, because this is the biggest adversity of course, but make something good out of it.”
A full-back in his playing days, Eriksson began his amazing 42-year managerial career with Swedish side Degerfors in 1977.
He then moved to IFK Goteborg in 1979, winning numerous trophies including the Uefa Cup.
A spell at Benfica followed, before he landed his first job in Italy with Roma.
After two years at Fiorentina he returned to Benfica, before a five-year stint at Sampdoria.
Following four seasons with Lazio, Eriksson was appointed England manager by the FA.
He left the post in 2006 after three consecutive quarter-final outings – and went on to manage Manchester City and Leicester City.
Further national team posts followed with Mexico and Ivory Coast, before he finished his managerial career in Asia with Guangzhou R&F, Shanghai SIPG, Shenzhen and the Phillippines.
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AFP
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