SVEN-GORAN ERIKSSON is fast becoming the managerial GODFATHER — with scores of his old players carving out careers as top bosses.
Eriksson made a huge impact on the English game as the country’s first-ever foreign coach.
Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson is proud of Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard for following in his footstepsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The Swede also coached current Three Lions boss Gareth SouthgateCredit: Getty – Contributor
Back then, he was handed control of the so-called ‘Golden Generation’ which ultimately fell short of winning trophies.
But several of those he worked with during that Three Lions spell are now scaling the managerial heights themselves — led of course by current chief Gareth Southgate.
Chelsea’s Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard at Rangers are the new generation emerging from Eriksson’s England — along with Sol Campbell at Southend.
Wayne Rooney, Ashley Cole and Joe Cole are among others from his group also embarking on coaching careers with one eye on being bosses in the future.
And for Eriksson, 72, it is so exciting to see the latest crop of players he managed beginning to make their mark in the dugout after illustrious playing careers.
He told SunSport: “It’s great to see my old players evolving into managers and coaches.
“I remember them as players talking about it. I didn’t have them for one game, I had them for a number of years, and I would be so happy for them if they are to become successful.
“I am very happy to see Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Gareth Southgate doing so well.
I remember them as players talking about it. Frank was always very interested in training, what we were doing, the system and tactics. It’s the same with Steven Gerrard
Sven-Goran Eriksson
“You have others also coaching and managing and it’s nice to see.
“I managed Lazio in my last job before I came to England. And of that team, more than 50 per cent of them are really good managers around the world.
“Diego Simeone at Atletico, Roberto Mancini with the Italian national team, Sinisa Mihajlovic at Bologna, Sergio Conceicao at Porto, Simone Inzaghi at Lazio.
“It is nice to follow them and see what they are doing.”
Eriksson led England in three major tournaments — getting to know some of the biggest names over the past two decades.
He had an inkling some were destined for life in the dugout — while others he was was not so sure about.
Speaking from his home in Sweden during the lockdown, he added: “If you talk about Lampard it is absolutely no surprise at all.
“You could understand that for him the future was always going to be as a manager.
“And, of course, he has come from a football family. Frank was always very interested in training, what we were doing, the system and tactics. It’s the same with Steven Gerrard.
Lampard is already in the Chelsea dugout after just one season in managementCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Liverpool icon Gerrard is in charge of Scottish giants RangersCredit: Getty Images – Getty
“If you take Wayne Rooney, no. His knowledge of football is extremely good but I had him when he was very young, so I suppose it is difficult to say.
“But I didn’t think he would go into management . . .
“But here we are and he is at Derby and is good. He has matured so well.
“I coached him first when he was just 17 years old and I could see he was a great footballer, that is for sure.
“As players, they had great knowledge about football and they were interested to know, to see and understand why we did certain things.
“Then when you look at their personalities, they are leaders — all of them.
“At some stage all were captains for England. And you will not be captain of England if you don’t have some sort of leadership.”
Lampard has already made the step up to managing a top Premier League club in Chelsea, while Eriksson believes Gerrard is a Liverpool boss in waiting.
Gerrard is at a great, great club. A big club, huge club, so why should he leave? I don’t think Liverpool will come for him this year — but I wouldn’t be surprised if they do whenever Klopp decides to leave
Sven-Goran Eriksson
But the Swede has told his former player not to be in any rush to leave Rangers and the Scottish game.
And Eriksson knows just how tough it will be if the Anfield icon succeeds Jurgen Klopp in the future.
The former Manchester City boss explained: “Gerrard is at a great, great club. A big club, huge club, so why should he leave? It’s not a must for him, absolutely not.
“I don’t think Liverpool will come for him this year — but I wouldn’t be surprised if they do whenever Klopp decides to leave.
“He was their captain for years. Kenny Dalglish and other big players have done it.
“But it’s not always ideal timing. To take over after Sir Alex Ferguson would never be easy — the same with Arsene Wenger.
“They are legends at their clubs and to repeat what they did is going to be very difficult. It’s the same with Jurgen and Liverpool.”
Perhaps the closest of England’s stars to Eriksson was David Beckham.
Becks has gone down the route of club ownership after retirement.
His Inter Miami in the MLS have finally started playing — and for Eriksson it was a step he was always going to take.
He said: “I’m not surprised David has gone into ownership. Even as a player, he did a lot of other things.
“I was always surprised how he could be as good as he was, and how he could be so dedicated to football, knowing his busy life outside of football.
“He was extremely professional and working extremely hard. But if you had asked me at that time, no, I would not have said he would go into management.
“I knew he would stay in football, of course. He can do whatever he wants in football!”
Sven revealed his pleasant surprise at Wayne Rooney’s maturity into becoming Derby coachCredit: PA:Press Association
The former Lazio coach believed David Beckham was always going to continue in football after retirementCredit: Reuters
Frank Lampard says kids are making Chelsea’s pensioners feel young again as Giroud, Pedro and Willian down Everton
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
