LOUNGING by the pool at 10 o’clock in the morning, 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 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, Sven broke into that disarming, alluring smile and announced: “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 Eriksson did reeked of class.
Even when he was betrayed, as he led England to three quarter-finals at successive major tournam ents , th e Three Lions’ first non-English manager accepted his fate with remarkable equanimity.
Eriksson, who has died aged 76 after a long illness, may not have been the greatest England coach since Sir Alf Ramsey – but he was 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.
Bu hikaye Daily Record dergisinin August 27, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Daily Record dergisinin August 27, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
RAMPANT REDS ARE IN FOR KYL
A Brad night for Mbappe as Anfield rocks
No cure to Dee's woes in sight as Doc misses duo
TONY DOCHERTY has suffered a double dunt with Clark Robertson and Curtis Main joining Dundee's lengthy injury list.
GONE IN 30 SECONDS
McGrath: We have to learn to see out matches
Davina: I feel stronger & stronger every day
McCall update after brain op
SAVE EARTH BY TURNING BLACK FRIDAY GREEN
Campaign urges online shoppers to buy secondhand
COIN IT IN WITH £50K REWARD
Bonanza for return of peer's medieval currency
FOOTBALL LINK TO BRAIN DISEASES
HEADING footballs may cause more damage to the brain than previously thought, a new study has suggested.
CHURCH ELDER MET GIRL, 13, IN WOODS
A MARRIED church elder sneaked out to secretly meet a vulnerable young girl in the woods several times a week.
"GAME CHANGER' ON ASTHMA TREATMENT
Bigger shot of drug may save lives
BETH, 18, TAKES ONLINE DANGER WARNING TO MPS
Young people share social media experiences