SVEN-GORAN ERIKSSON has told Gareth Southgate to “do it for me, Sir Bobby Robson and England” in an emotional plea. The Swede, 76, bravely revealed in January that he does not know how much longer he has left to live as he battles pancreatic cancer . He has since fulfilled a lifelong dream by coaching a Liverpool team at Anfield .
One of Eriksson ’s other goals is to see his adopted nation England finally end their long-wait for silverware. He enjoyed a five-year spell in charge of the Three Lions from 2001 while Southgate was still a player. Eriksson's England record was defined by penalty shoot-outs as he was twice beaten by Portugal in quarter-finals on spot-kicks at Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006.
Brazilian legends Rivaldo and Ronaldinho also secured the Samba Boys a comeback win over the Three Lions at the 2002 World Cup, the first tournament Eriksson was at the helm for. However, Southgate, who won 16 of his 57 caps under the Swede, will lead England to a second final under his charge when they face Spain in the Euro 2024 showpiece in Berlin on Sunday . And now his former manager has claimed that he will surpass 1966 World Cup winning Sir Alf Ramsey as England’s greatest ever boss if he can secure glory this weekend.
He told The Telegraph : “The job of England manager brings with it a beautiful pressure. “You hear so much about 1966 and what Sir Alf Ramsey’s team did, and you know how much expectation there is on you to end all those years of hurt. “I felt.