Shen yor and Erikson doubted whether England could have a foreign manager an approach he considered a joke turned into a turbulent titillating and at times triumphant five years leading the three lines [Applause] yes even for the sve sweave the pressure was more intense than imagined the power of the press overwhelming this the golden generation era the age of the Wags the team's celebrity culture dominated and distracted and Erikson's own private life was far from private tabloid splashing on affairs with an fa secretary and fellow swed TV presenter or Johnson discovered through the dark arts of phone hacking the news of the world deploying the notorious fake shake to trap him in a fictitious approach by Aston Villa I was sacked because of that I would have been sacked anyhow after the World Cup 2006 because that was not good enough quarterfinal so I understand that but I did never accept or understood that the news of the world is so important that I can because I I told the people in F you you believe in them or you believe in me success in Italy at l convinced the fa to go overseas for a manager for the first time in the first year of the New Millennium the Hostile at time xenophobic media reaction seemed an acronis doubters were won over by thrashing England's greatest rival Germany beaten 5-1 in Berlin then this David Beckham free kick yes another iconic moment of Erikson's Reign sending England to the 2002 World cup they were knocked out by the eventual Champions Brazil quarterfinal exits are constant in Erikson's time losing to Portugal at Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup when it seemed more about Fame than football around the team the bom bom base a celebrity Circus the spotlight sought by players wives and girlfriends a stint at notot County was typically eventful exploited by a scam owner ship it was in 2023 that Erikson was forced to step down from his last role back home in Sweden due to ill health and the terminal cancer prognosis was made public in January 2024 his final footballing wish revealed to Sky News I'm a Liverpool supporter I always been so I always wished to be the Manager of Liverpool and that will not happen but it did managing a Liverpool Legends match at anfield it's beautiful it's people the crowd incredible yeah I was crying a little bit there was no anger in his dying days there rarely was don't feel sorry about yourself I had a great life I have a certain certain age so I shouldn't complain very much Prejudice and hostility was overcome to show you don't have to be English to manage England schor and Erikson brought charm and Charisma to one of football's most challenging jobs graciousness without grudges Rob Harris Sky News