Sven-Goran Eriksson could manage Liverpool in dying wish after cancer diagnosis
Former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson could still get to fulfil his lifelong dream of managing Liverpool after the Swede bravely admitted he has “at best a year to live”.
Eriksson, 75, revealed he is suffering from inoperable pancreatic cancer on Thursday, vowing to fight against the disease even though he admits he will inevitably die from it. "In the beginning it was very difficult to accept it, but once you accept it life goes on, and life has to go on," Eriksson said.
Eriksson was given the sad news after he collapsed following a 5k run and was taken to hospital by his children. "I felt totally well - it came like a very, very, very big surprise," he said. “When you get a message like that it's like a shock because I was fully fit, and rather fit as well in training. It came from nowhere. Of course you feel very bad... but you have to fight against it, and that's what I am trying to do at least."
The former England, Manchester City and Leicester City boss is now taking medication to slow down the spread of the cancer, and according to Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler he could get the chance to live out one of his lifelong ambitions before he passes away.
In an interview with Sky News on Friday Eriksson confessed he has always been a Liverpool supporter, and said that not managing the Reds was the biggest regret of his career.
Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge himHe said: “My father is still alive and is still a Liverpool supporter, and I’m a Liverpool supporter as well – I’ve always been. So I always wished to be the manager of Liverpool, and that will not happen for sure, but I’m still a Liverpool fan."
However, the Swede could now be given that chance to fulfil a lifelong dream to take charge of Liverpool at Anfield in a charity legends match against Ajax in March.
On Saturday former Liverpool star Luis Garcia responded to a tweet from Sky News detailing Eriksson's Liverpool regret, with the Spaniard stating "Legends game still a chance, YNWA (You'll Never Walk Alone).
Former Liverpool physio Andy Renshaw followed that up by asking Garcia, Fowler and fellow Reds legend Ian Rush to “make this happen” for Eriksson, and Fowler - who played for England under the Swede’s management - said that “the call has gone in” to see if it would be possible for Eriksson to take charge of the Liverpool team and be in the dugout at Anfield for the match, which is in aid of the LFC Foundation.