Sven Goran Eriksson

About

Sven won 17 major trophies as a manager, with a variety of league clubs in Sweden, Portugal and Italy, between 1979 and 2000, and became the first manager to win league-and-cup doubles in three different countries. He is perhaps best known for his time as the manager of England, but he has also been the national coach for Mexico and Côte d’Ivoire, as well as, two clubs in England.

Sven Goran Eriksson played as a right-back in the lower divisions of Swedish football. The highest level he played at was Division 2 with Karlskoga, where he met Tord Grip, before being forced into an early retirement owing to a knee injury in 1975 aged 27.

Having retired as a player, Eriksson received an offer to become Tord Grip’s assistant at Degerfors. A year later, Grip was appointed assistant manager of the Swedish national team, and Eriksson became Degerfors’ manager, winning promotion to Division 2 in 1978.

In 1992 Eriksson returned to Italy to try his luck again, with Sampdoria, where he managed to win another Coppa Italia in 1994.

Following the resignation of England manager Kevin Keegan after a home loss to Germany in October 2000, the Football Association specifically pursued Eriksson as his replacement. Eriksson had initially agreed to take over after the expiration of his contract in summer 2001, but decided to resign his post at Lazio early, and he officially began his England duties in January of that year. Eriksson was the first foreign manager to be appointed coach of the England national team.

Eriksson turned round England’s bid for qualification for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, with several crucial wins.

Eriksson improved England’s FIFA World Ranking from 17th place in January 2001 to 5th place in July 2006, reaching 4th during World Cup 2006, and was rated by the FA as England’s second most successful Manager after Alf Ramsey. He is the only England manager, other than the short-lived Terry Venables, who has never failed to guide England to the last eight in a major tournament.

Under Eriksson, England achieved the highest point percentage in Major Tournament Matches of all time for an England manager, lost only 3 competitive games (excluding extra-time), and achieved top qualifying place in all three International tournaments.

In July 2007, virtually a year to the day that he left the England job, Eriksson was confirmed as the new manager of Manchester City after signing a three-year contract.

On 3 June 2008, he was officially signed to become the manager of the Mexican national team.

He was appointed manager of Leicester City on 3 October 2010 as the Foxes sat in the relegaton zone of the Championship.

Sven’s considerable sporting and managerial experience, combined with his pleasing manner, informed approach and articulate delivery, make him a natural choice for personal appearances, motivational and after dinner speaking, as well as corporate days and promotions.