5 Feb 1948 Born in Torsby, Sweden.
1975 - Knee injury brings an undistinguished playing career as a right-back for Swedish second division Karlskoga to an end.
1976 - Appointed coach of Swedish third division Degerfors and guides them to the top flight in three years.
1980-82 - Joins IFK Gothenburg. Coaches them to one Swedish championship, two domestic cups and the 1982 UEFA Cup.
1982-84 - Coaches Benfica to two championships and a cup in two seasons.
1984-85 - Arrives in Italy to join AS Roma.
1985-86 - Coaches Roma to within sight of the title but they lose 3-2 at home to relegated Lecce on the penultimate day of the season, handing the crown to Juventus.
1987-1989 - Moves to Fiorentina in 1987 and coaches them to eighth and seventh place finishes in Serie A.
1989-1991 - Returns to Benfica and guides them to the 1990 European Cup final, which they lose to AC Milan. Wins Portuguese title in 1991.
1991-1996 - Back in Italy with Sampdoria. Wins the Italian Cup in 1994.
1997 - Joins Lazio, winning the Italian Cup in 1998. In the same season they lose to Inter Milan in the UEFA Cup final.
1999 - Wins the European Cup Winners Cup with Lazio who beat Real Mallorca in the competition's last final.
2000 - Lazio win the league and cup double, giving the Rome side only the second "scudetto" in their history.
31 Oct 2000 - Confirmed as England coach from summer 2001after Kevin Keegan resigned earlier in the month.
12 Jan 2001 - Becomes first foreigner to coach England.
28 Feb - England coaching career begins with 3-0 win over Spain in a friendly at Villa Park.
1 Sept - Becomes a national hero after England thrash Germany 5-1 in a World Cup qualifier in Munich.
June 2002 - Enhances his reputation as England beat old rivals Argentina 1-0 in a World Cup group match, but they then lose 2-1 to ten-man Brazil in quarter-final. June 2004 - England eliminated from Euro 2004 after losing 6-5 on penalties to Portugal in quarter-final.
October 2005 - England finish top of their qualifying group after beating Austria and Poland.
November 2005 - England beat Argentina 3-2 in a thrilling match at Geneva.
23 Jan 2006 - Eriksson and The FA agree that the Swede will leave his post as England head coach after the World Cup, which starts on 9 June.

Sven has taken charge of 59 matches since his appointment as England Head Coach, but how does that rank with other managers?

Manager

Term

Years

Matches

Sir Alf Ramsay

63-74

  11

   113

Don Revie

74-77 

   3 

    29

Ron Greenwood

77-82

   5

    55

Sir Bobby Robson

82-90

   8

    95

Graham Taylor

90-93 

   3

    38

Terry Venables

94-96

   2

    23

Glenn Hoddle

96-98

   2

    28

Kevin Keegan

99-00

   1

    18

S-G Eriksson

01-06

   5

    59


Sir Walter Winterbottom was "Manager" for 16 years (1946-62) and 139 matches but Ramsey was the first with sole control over the team. Sir Walter is therefore not included in the survey.

Sven is the third longest serving Manager behind Ramsey and Robson. Greenwood, September '77 to July '82, was in charge for slightly under five years. Sven is also third in terms of matches.