SVEN’S ANFIELD OF DREAMS
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invited Eriksson over from Sweden to achieve his ambition by taking charge of the legends side and the emotion was clear to see as he walked out to a warm reception at Anfield.
Eriksson added: “To sit on the bench for Liverpool has been my dream my whole life and now it’s happened. Thank you to Liverpool for giving me the opportunity.
“To see all these good players – they are not 20 any more but they can still play – coming back from 2-0 down was great and it is great to win the game.” Liverpool scored four in the second half after their substitutions and some tactical switches paid off, which included Kop icon Steven Gerrard going into a deeper role.
But Eriksson refused to take credit for the tactical tweaks.
He said: “In a game like this everyone has to play, it was not my genius, we decided before the game we would make these changes.”
Eriksson went on a lap of honour at the end of the game with the players and the emotions got the better of him again.
He said it was a beautiful way to finish off a managerial career which saw him have success in his homeland, Portugal and Italy, before he then led England in three major tournaments and had stints at Manchester City and Leicester.
The chance never came to manage Liverpool, a team he supported as a boy thanks to his own father’s love for the club, but that dream was realised in a special way.
Sven Snr was watching back in Sweden as the game was beamed back there live.
“My father saw the game on television I am quite sure,” added Eriksson. “It was full of emotions, tears coming, it has been my dream club all my life.
“Even when I had the England job I was a supporter of Liverpool but I couldn’t say it at that time.
“It is a good finish to finish with Liverpool. It cannot get much better.”
Liverpool were captained by Gerrard, who played under Eriksson for England.
Eriksson stated: “He is the boss out there – of course [he still has it].
“Everybody was a winner and it was beautiful, absolutely fantastic, incredible: everything from You’ll Never Walk Alone and the rest of the match, and a good win.”