THE scoreline still makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end: Germany 1, England 5. In the dugout, masterminding the demolition of the old sporting enemy that day, was a thoughtful Swede who stayed ice cool amid the pandemonium around him. England’s first foreign manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson , seemed like nothing would ruffle him.
Few would have guessed — from his owlish exterior at least — that away from the football pitch he led such a tumultuous personal life. That crazy night in Munich in 2001, now part of English footballing folklore, proved something of a high watermark for Sven and his Golden Generation of players. His three international tournaments with England all ended at the quarter-finals.
Broken metatarsals, bodged penalties and a Ronaldinho free kick that looked to be a mis-hit denied him sporting immortality. And his time as Three Lions coach will be remembered as much for his shenanigans off the pitch as his successes on it. With receding grey hair, rimless specs and a demeanour seemingly as chilly as a Scandinavian fjord, he didn’t seem like a ladies’ man.
Yet appearances were very deceptive. Most read in Football His glam Italian former girlfriend Nancy Dell’Olio wrote breathlessly of their first meeting: “The attraction was electric before we touched — but one touch was all it took.” And there were affairs with Britain’s other famous Swede Ulrika Jonsson and FA secretary Faria Alam — both while he was still dating Nancy.
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