It's a memory for life' - Sven-Goran Eriksson thanks Liverpool after fulfilling manager dream
Liverpool
'It's a memory for life' - Sven-Goran Eriksson thanks Liverpool after fulfilling manager dream
Eriksson managed Liverpool Legends in charity game
Swede fulfilled lifelong ambition for special match at Anfield
Former England boss revealed terminal cancer diagnosis in January
By Jamie Spencer
12:15 PM GMT
Eriksson fulfilled a lifelong ambition at Liverpool
Eriksson fulfilled a lifelong ambition at Liverpool / OLI SCARFF/GettyImages
Sven-Goran Eriksson hailed his experience of being Liverpool manager for the day at Anfield in a legends charity match as a "memory for life".
Eriksson was handed control of a Liverpool Legends side featuring the likes of Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Daniel Agger and Jerzy Dudek for the clash with Ajax Legends, having revealed it as a personal dream in the wake of his terminal cancer diagnosis earlier this year.
"I think everybody was a winner today and it was beautiful, absolutely fantastic, incredible - everything from You'll Never Walk Alone and the rest of the match, and a good win - we were 2-0 down and won 4-2!" the former England boss reflected afterwards.
"I was crying [during You'll Never Walk Alone]. [It is] a memory for life."
The 75-year-old, who was England's first foreign head coach during his reign between 2001 and 2006, said in January he has "best case a year" to live and "worst case a lot less".
Sven-Goran Eriksson
Eriksson was visibly emotional at Anfield / Clive Brunskill/GettyImages
Reflecting on his ambition being fulfilled on Saturday, Eriksson continued: "To sit on the bench for Liverpool, that's been my dream my whole life. Now it happened, and it was a beautiful day in all meanings. The crowd, the game, the players, everything, fantastic, and thank you to Liverpool for giving me this opportunity, to invite me for such an important game - it's not points, but the importance of the game is incredible.
"It was full of emotions, tears coming. It's been my dream club all my life - even when I had England, I also supported Liverpool, but I couldn't say it at that time. It's a good finish, to finish with Liverpool, it can't be much better than that."
Eriksson's managerial career spanned 42 years, from his first job with Degefor in his native Sweden in 1977 until stepping down as Philippines boss in 2019. He rose to international prominence in the 1980s with spells in charge of Benfica and Roma, before perhaps a career-defining stint at Lazio that saw the club win Serie A, the Coppa Italia twice and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.
After leaving the England job in 2006, Eriksson had a season at Manchester City right before Sheikh Mansour's 2008 takeover catapulted the club to success. He also spent a number of years in China.
READ THE LATEST LIVERPOOL NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP
•
Gareth Southgate makes admission on England midfield problem
•
Football transfer rumours: Arsenal consider Gibbs-White; Alonso could take defender to Liverpool
•
Liverpool vs Brighton: The results of their last 10 meetings
•
Ibrahima Konate reveals Liverpool squad's anxiety over manager search
Related Topics
Liverpool FC
England
Manchester City FC
Serie A
Roma
Transfers
Home
/
International Football
Endrick makes Sir Bobby Charlton tribute in reaction to first Brazil goal
Endrick reveals video game deja vu after scoring first Brazil goal on Saturday night
17-year-old also paid tribute to Man Utd great Sir Bobby Charlton
Brazil next in action against Spain at the Bernabeu on Tuesday night
By Jude Summerfield
12:00 PM GMT
Endrick scored his first senior goal for Brazil against England
Endrick scored his first senior goal for Brazil against England / Catherine Ivill/GettyImages
Endrick couldn't hide his delight after scoring his maiden senior goal for Brazil in the 1-0 victory over England on Saturday night.
The 17-year-old attacker, who is due to join Real Madrid in the summer, became the youngest ever player to score a winning goal in a senior men's match at Wembley as the Selecao bounced back from three consecutive defeats to triumph over the Three Lions.
Endrick poked in after Jordan Pickford saved Vinicius Junior's initial strike and the teenager revealed he experienced some deja vu having once scored a similar effort on a computer game.
He told reporters: "I'm still getting my head around it. I think it cost me a bit at the end there, when I had the chance to score again. I can't lie: I couldn't stop thinking about the goal.
"It is a unique feeling. I used to play video games. I would play as Brazil on career mode. I remember playing here at Wembley on the game and scoring. That came into my head and I kept thinking about it. I couldn't concentrate on the game.
"It's a unique memory. My family is here, my girlfriend, my agents...I'm not the kind of person who cries often, but I'm holding it back now. I'm really happy."
Endrick De Sousa
Endrick scored on his third Brazil appearance / Eurasia Sport Images/GettyImages
Endrick also revealed his pride at emulating Manchester United great Sir Bobby Charlton, who passed away last year.
Charlton was part of England's 1966 World Cup-winning squad and was the country's leading goalscorer for 47 years with 49 strikes before being overtaken by Wayne Rooney in 2015.
Endrick added: "A guy who is an idol here is also Bobby Charlton. Playing in the stadium that Bobby played, scoring on the day Ronaldo debuted. These are very important memories for me."
Endrick will hope to make another significant impression when Brazil take on Spain at the Bernabeu, the home of future club Madrid, on Tuesday.
READ THE LATEST REAL MADRID NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP
•
England's best and worst players in 1-0 Brazil defeat
•
Gareth Southgate makes admission on England midfield problem
•
Football transfer rumours: Arsenal consider Gibbs-White; Alonso could take defender to Liverpool
•
Endrick breaks Wembley record with goal for Brazil against England
Related Topics
Endrick
World Cup - Brazil
England
Real Madrid CF
Manchester United FC
World Cup
Three
