LOUNGING by the pool at 10am, Didi Hamann was taken aback to see Sven-Goran Eriksson approaching with a bottle of champagne and two glasses on a silver tray.
Manchester City were on an end-of-season tour in 2008 after signing off with an 8-1 defeat at Middlesbrough in the Premier League, and Eriksson knew his days as manager under a Blue Moon were numbered.
When German midfielder Hamann asked what they were celebrating, Eriksson broke into that disarming, alluring smile and said: "Life, Kaiser. We are celebrating...life." If bubbles at 10am was a classy gesture by a condemned man awaiting his summons to meet the firing squad in the exercise yard, it was entirely in keeping with his enviable charm.
Everything that Sven-Goran Eriksson did reeked of class.
Even when he was betrayed, as he led England to three quarterfinals at successive major tournaments, the Three Lions' first non-English manager accepted his fate with remarkable equanimity.
Eriksson, who has died aged 76 after a battle with cancer, may not have been the greatest England coach since Sir Alf Ramsey - but he was surely the most dignified.
After a trophy-laden managerial career in his native Sweden, Portugal and Italy - including titles at Benfica and Lazio - his appointment as Kevin Keegan's successor was greeted, in some quarters, with Little Englander disdain.
Denne historien er fra August 27, 2024-utgaven av Daily Express.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra August 27, 2024-utgaven av Daily Express.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
THE ART OF WAR
Boss lauds 'ugly' derby win after sleepless nights blight build-up
CLOCK-WISE
Newcastle wake up in time to stun dominant Wolves
Vu's late burst ends brave European rally
LILIA GETS AMERICANS OVER LINE
'Miracle' Triple Layer Insoles stopped my husband's knee and foot paint!
They also turned him from a grumpy old grouch to being active, pain-free and happy again! And got my life back too!
Why teens are hooked on Friends 20 years on
The one where a new generation of fans is devoted to the hit TV show three decades after it first aired... Debbi Marco takes her children to an immersive experience bringing the iconic TV sitcom back to life
FINAL JOURNEY OF THE UNKNOWN WARRIOR
In the final extract from his impossibly moving new book, RAF veteran John Nichol reveals how the remains of ONE anonymous fallen serviceman were chosen to represent ALL of Britain's First World War missing
Space billionaire returns to Earth with a splash
THE first non-astronaut to walk in space landed back on Earth yesterday after an epic five-day trip.
'I feel I'm having one of the greatest decades of my life'
DAVINA McCall is relishing fulfilling lifelong her 50s career ambitions, scooping an MBE and finding happiness with partner Michael Douglas.
Putin hands Iran nuclear secrets in return for ballistic missiles
FEARS were growing in the West last night that Russia gave Iran nuclear secrets in return for ballistic missiles to use in its bombardment of Ukraine.
William wishes Harry a happy 40th birthday
KATE and William sent greetings to Prince Harry on his 40th birthday yesterday as they followed the lead of the King.