Sven-Göran Eriksson, born on February 5, 1948, in Sunne, Sweden, made history by becoming the first foreign manager of the Three Lions, a role that brought both acclaim and scrutiny.
Eriksson's appointment followed the abrupt departure of Kevin Keegan in the aftermath of the 1-0 loss to Germany in old Wembley's last ever game, and the Swede quickly revitalized the team, leading them to a stunning 5-1 victory over Germany in the reverse fixture in Munich in September 2001. This victory was pivotal in securing England’s qualification for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, where they reached the quarter-finals before being eliminated by Brazil. Under Eriksson, England also qualified for Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup, reaching the quarter-finals both times.
During his five-year spell, Eriksson guided England from 17th to 5th in the FIFA World Rankings, becoming a beloved figure among fans and players alike. He was known for managing a "Golden Generation" of players, including the likes of David Beckham, Michael Owen, Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, and Wayne Rooney. Despite his successes, Eriksson's tenure was marred by the inability to get beyond those three quarter-finals and secure a major international trophy, leading to his departure after the 2006 World Cup, which ended controversially due to a media sting operation involving a fake sheikh.
Eriksson's England career is remembered for its highs and lows, characterized by tactical acumen and a charismatic presence, making him one of the most recognized figures in football management during his time. Although his departure was welcomed by many in the English press, Sven-Göran Eriksson's legacy lies in transforming the England national team from the anonymity it had experienced for the previous 30 years into a genuine contender on the international stage. However, real glory would have to wait...
England Match Statistics
Match Type
Played
Won
Drawn
Lost
For
Against
FriendlyFR2713775233
World Cup QualifierWCQ1613213310
World Cup FinalsWCF10541125
European Championship QualifierECQ8620145
European Championship FinalsECF4211106
FA Summer TournamentFAST211072
Competitive40271037628
Home, Away or Neutral
Played
Won
Drawn
Lost
For
Against
Home3020646825
Away2111643221
Neutral169522815
Totals
67
40
17
10
128
61
Sources
265 sources from 67 matchesSelect from match list to see sources.
POR, 1st Jul 2006, 0 - 0 (WCF) *
ECU, 25th Jun 2006, 1 - 0 (WCF) 
TRI, 15th Jun 2006, 2 - 0 (WCF) 
PAR, 10th Jun 2006, 1 - 0 (WCF) 
JAM, 3rd Jun 2006, 6 - 0 (FR) 
HUN, 30th May 2006, 3 - 1 (FR) 
URU, 1st Mar 2006, 2 - 1 (FR) 
ARG, 12th Nov 2005, 3 - 2 (FR) 
POL, 12th Oct 2005, 2 - 1 (WCQ) 
AUT, 8th Oct 2005, 1 - 0 (WCQ) 
NIR, 7th Sep 2005, 0 - 1 (WCQ) 
WAL, 3rd Sep 2005, 1 - 0 (WCQ) 
DEN, 17th Aug 2005, 1 - 4 (FR) 
COL, 31st May 2005, 3 - 2 (FR) 
USA, 28th May 2005, 2 - 1 (FR) 
AZE, 30th Mar 2005, 2 - 0 (WCQ) 
NED, 9th Feb 2005, 0 - 0 (FR) 
ESP, 17th Nov 2004, 0 - 1 (FR) 
UKR, 18th Aug 2004, 3 - 0 (FR) 
CRO, 21st Jun 2004, 4 - 2 (ECF) 
SUI, 17th Jun 2004, 3 - 0 (ECF) 
FRA, 13th Jun 2004, 1 - 2 (ECF) 
ISL, 5th Jun 2004, 6 - 1 (FAST) 
JPN, 1st Jun 2004, 1 - 1 (FAST) 
TUR, 11th Oct 2003, 0 - 0 (ECQ) 
LIE, 10th Sep 2003, 2 - 0 (ECQ) 
MKD, 6th Sep 2003, 2 - 1 (ECQ) 
SVK, 11th Jun 2003, 2 - 1 (ECQ) 
SCG, 3rd Jun 2003, 2 - 1 (FR) 
RSA, 22nd May 2003, 2 - 1 (FR) 
AUS, 12th Feb 2003, 1 - 3 (FR) 
BRA, 21st Jun 2002, 1 - 2 (WCF) 
NGA, 12th Jun 2002, 0 - 0 (WCF) 
CMR, 26th May 2002, 2 - 2 (FR) 
KOR, 21st May 2002, 1 - 1 (FR) 
ITA, 27th Mar 2002, 1 - 2 (FR) 
GRE, 6th Oct 2001, 2 - 2 (WCQ) 
ALB, 5th Sep 2001, 2 - 0 (WCQ) 
GER, 1st Sep 2001, 5 - 1 (WCQ) 
MEX, 25th May 2001, 4 - 0 (FR) 
FIN, 24th Mar 2001, 2 - 1 (WCQ)