Sven started at Soho Square as England Head Coach five years ago today.
By Daniel Freedman. Thursday, 12 January 2006.
It is five years to the day since Sven-Goran Eriksson set foot inside FA Headquarters in Soho Square and in an exclusive interview with TheFA.com, England’s first foreign coach looked back on his tenure, reflecting that he has done things his way.
"Tord and I came in with open eyes and we discussed whether we should go round to people like Bobby Robson and Kevin Keegan and ask about the players," he revealed.
"But we said no, we will go around a lot of football matches and make our own opinion."
Recalling the lead-up to his appointment as England coach, Sven said: "It started when I was on a short weekend off because it was an international week. England were playing Germany at Wembley that weekend.
"I was driving my car in Italy and it must have been just after the end of that match that [my agent] Athole Still phoned me and asked if I wanted to be the manager of England.
"I said: 'It's not the 1st of April', because I thought he was joking with me ! I went to my Chairman, Cragnotti, at Lazio and said: ‘I want to do it.'
Sven had an immediate impact on England’s fortunes, beginning with a 3-0 victory over Spain at Villa Park in February 2001 and culminating in our qualification for the 2002 World Cup Finals.
Coming into his new job, he had a very clear idea of how he wanted to present himself to his new players.
"I wanted to make things simple, playing positive football," he recalled. "I started to talk, even if I only had two training sessions before the Spain game. I tried to get to know the coaches and create a good ambience in the group.
"Maybe that was the most important thing because you are hopefully going to big tournaments and if you don't have a good relationship and a good ambience in the group then it will be a nightmare.
"I felt things would be good in the future." In a sense, that future is now and Sven believes his team have come a long way over the last five years.
"We are much better today [than in 2001]," he stated. "We are technically better, we have the right age, many of them have played the World Cup before and the confidence is much higher."
"I have much more experience of international football today too. I know what is going to happen in a tournament and I know how to prepare much better than before 2002.
"I am proud to have my job. I have never wanted to resign, even after the Northern Ireland game - no chance. "And, now, here we are knocking on the door of the World Cup which is fantastic. The players know we can beat anyone and we don't need to be afraid of anyone."