RIP: Sven-Göran Eriksson
In my tribute piece to the former England boss I recall three memorable European clashes Sven-Göran Eriksson's sides played against Arsenal. RIP Sven
Such sad news to learn that Sven-Göran Eriksson has died aged 76 today (Monday, August 26.)
The former England manager had terminal pancreatic cancer.
His family said: "Sven-Goran Eriksson has passed away.
“After a long illness [he] died during the morning at home surrounded by family."
RIP Sven-Göran Eriksson
RIP Sven-Göran Eriksson
The Swede managed 12 clubs, including Gothenburg, Benfica, Roma, Fiorentina, Sampdoria and Lazio, winning 18 trophies. He also managed Manchester City and Leicester.
Eriksson also had spells in charge of Mexico, Ivory Coast and the Philippines.
On a personal note, Erikson was the architect of the two of the most incredible matches I’ve ever attended.
Germany 1-5 England, in Munich, in September 2001, and England 1-0 Argentina, in Sapporo, on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido during the 2002 World Cup.
And for those never-to-be-forgotten victories, I, and I’m sure, so many others, will always thank him for.
RIP Sven-Göran Eriksson
Erikson also had experience of managing against Arsenal plenty of times during his career (see below).
Germany 1-5 England: Sven’s finest hour as England boss. (I was at the back of the away end at Munich’s Olympiastadion, somewhere under the scoreboard that memorable night.)
RIP Sven-Göran Eriksson
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Sven-Göran Eriksson tribute
Three memorable matches Sven-Göran Eriksson managed against Arsenal
Sven’s Gothenburg takes on Arsenal
In 1980, a young Erikson, still learning his trade as a manager, took his Gothenburg side to Highbury on the back of a 0-0 draw in the first leg of the quarter-final of the European Cup Winners Cup.
Terry Neill’s Arsenal beat them 5-1 in the second leg in North London, as the Swedes, still emerging from their winter break to start their new season in the spring were overwhelmed by the Gunners.
When manager of a pre-petro dollar, sovereign wealth fund Manchester City, Erikson recalled after a 6-0 defeat by a post-Jose Mourinho MKII Chelsea back in 2007 (how times change), by reflecting on the thrashing, saying: “I have never lost 6-0 in my career before.
“The worst result until this was when I was at Gothenburg, many years ago, and we were beaten 5-1 by Arsenal in the old Cup Winners Cup.”
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Erikson’s Benfica emerge victorious in the European Cup after a fraught night at Highbury
The upward trajectory of Erikson’s managerial career took him to Portugal to manage Benfica after Gothenburg, first in 1982, for a two year spell, prior to returning to the Lisbon giants for the second time, in 1989, sandwiched between coaching Roma and Fiorentina in Serie A.
In late October 1991, Arsenal drew 1-1 at the cavernous Stadium of Light, in the first leg of their second round European Cup tie.
George Graham’s Gunners looked well set to make the quarter-finals after the late Kevin Campbell’s away goal.
However, that was before Erikson and his Benfica side had other ideas. Despite Colin Pates putting Arsenal 1-0 at a fevered Highbury on November, 2, the Portuguese side, emerged 3-1 winners after extra time. With many Gooners of a certain vintage still decrying the names Isias and Yuran, after both players netted in extra time, to leave Graham, his side, and the fans, absolutely crestfallen.
In fact, the defeat shaped Arsenal history, because, never again would Graham believe in attacking football, preferring a solid defence to outscoring the opposition. (See my From The Archive below).
Paul Merson is distraught after Sven Goran Erikson’s Benfica beat Arsenal 3-1 to knock George Graham’s side out of the European Cup at Highbury in 1991.
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Seaman stuns Sven’s Sampdoria after spot-kick drama
Sampdoria 3-2 Arsenal (5-5 on aggregate, Arsenal won 3-2 on penalties) ECWC semi final, second leg, April 20, 1995. Luigi Ferraris Stadium
After losing to Barcelona in the European Cup in April 1992, Sven was to exit Benfica shortly afterwards, to return to Serie A, when taking up the challenge of coaching Sampdoria.
The Swede stayed at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium for five years up to 1997. And managed Samp in one of the most dramatic European ties Arsenal have ever played in.
Following a thrilling 3-2 victory in the first leg of the last four clash at Highbury - which included two goals from Steve Bould, the Gunners travelled (including myself as a fan) to the rough Italian port of Genoa for the second leg
After an incredible see-saw match played out in front of one of the most passionate atmosphere’s I’ve ever experienced, David Seaman was the hero, saving three spot-kicks after a thrilling tie had ended 5-5 on aggregate.
I still shake my head now thinking about that game.
Against the might of Zenga, Vierchowod, Siniša Mihajlovi?, Lombardo, Jukovic, Roberto Mancini, Ruud Gullit and, er, David Platt we triumphed 3-2 in a tempestuous, rip-snorting game under the Highbury lights with the unlikely Steve Bould scoring two goals and Ian Wright, Wright, Wright the other.
Mancini was quoted afterwards as saying: ‘to lose 3-2 is a good result as we are formidable at the Luigi Ferrari’.
In the end, in a game that sorely raised our collective blood pressure, we saw Arsenal win on penalties after losing 3-2 on the night.
Sat high up in the Italian end that night after all manner of travails with Genoa’s carabinieri (don’t ask) we celebrated long and loud after an evening that went into the annals of Arsenal’s European history, after edging past Erikson’s admirable Sampdoria side.
FROM THE ARCHIVE:
My newspaper column after Arsenal’s 1-1 Europa League draw against Benfica in Rome, during lockdown in February 2021.
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WHILE Arsenal’s 1-1 Europa League draw with Benfica in Rome this week wasn’t the most effective performance, there was an instructive moment of magic that thrilled from the Gunners’ Real Madrid loanee Martin Odegaard.
In a crowded box, the former teen prodigy showed what hardened pros might call “quick feet,” using his abundant technique and no little guile to move the ball in a confined space — bamboozling opponents bearing down on him.
It was as fleeting as it was glorious: blink and you would have missed it. Which is exactly what the Gunners’ original temporary signing from the Bernabeu, Dani Ceballos, did with the resulting chance Odegaard created.
But the vignette warmed the heart and should have excited any true fan of elegance, flair and creativity — “illusion,” as the Spanish call it.
Of course, Arsenal fans on Twitter didn’t take too kindly to the result. Yes, Arsenal could and should have put the tie to bed. That they didn’t was mostly due to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s failure to make the most of the gilt-edged chances that fell his way.
But the post-match noise on the social media platform made you thankful that the medium wasn’t around in 1994, during the north Londoners’ majestic Cup Winners’ Cup triumph — still the last continental trophy lifted by the club.
Under George Graham’s canny guidance, against all odds, Arsenal beat a gilded Palma side 1-0 in the final through a mixture of grit, resolution, determination, esprit de corps and character.
This correspondent went to eight of the nine matches during that memorable run across the continent, including the never-to-be-forgotten clash at the Parken Stadium against the crack Serie-A side, which contained the likes of Faustino Asprilla and Gianfranco Zola.
I even wrote a book about it, The Miracle of Copenhagen, which is still available at good bookshops everywhere. If only they were allowed to open.
But there were bumps in the road. Springing to mind are a dull 0-0 at the Stadio delle Alpi and a hard-fought 1-1 against a PSG side containing George Weah and David Ginola, at a raucous Parc de Princes in the semi-final — before 1-0 to the Arsenal ensured victories in both ties.
We’re lucky Twitter wasn’t around then. Imagine the immediate post-match reaction. A goalless draw against Torino? Rubbish! A 1-1 draw in Paris. Useless!
Ironically the foundations of that famous 1994 victory were prompted by a juddering European Cup defeat at the hands of Benfica three years earlier. It was a seminal result, the shockwaves of which altered the mindset of Graham and his teams thereafter.
Having earned a creditable 1-1 draw through a Kevin Campbell goal at the original Stadium of Light, the Gunners looked well set to progress in that evocative, crumbling, cavernous bowl in Lisbon.
But in early November 1991, after 90 minutes of fraught action in the second leg, the score at long-lost Highbury replicated the clash two weeks prior, with 30 additional minutes necessary to decide the winner.
With hindsight, perhaps it wasn’t the wisest tactic that an exuberant Arsenal side continued wave after wave of all-out attack. Bolstered by scoring six in the previous round against Austria Vienna, there was an element of naivety from Graham’s side in flooding forward in search of a winner to kill off Benfica.
Step forward two visiting players, Isias and Yuran, who benefitted from the home side ceding possession during splenetic probing and counter-attacked with deadly force to win the tie 3-1 in extra time.
Arsenal were utterly shell-shocked, having been considered one of the favourites to lift the trophy.
The pain was compounded by the knowledge they failed to build upon their imperious procession to the 1991 Division One title. They lost only a single league game on the way, in an achievement which has never received the acclaim it deserved.
Graham analysed the Benfica defeat and concluded that defence was paramount.
A commitment to vibrant, attacking football fell by the wayside. So too did league results, with Arsenal finishing the first season of the Premier League in 10th place.
The flip side was that the club prioritised cup silverware. They were successful too. In that same season, 1992-93, the club won the FA Cup and League Cup, eclipsing an excellent Sheffield Wednesday side in both, while 12 months later the club achieved that miracle in Copenhagen.
But it was at a cost. Flair players were sidelined. The famous back line emerged as an impressive unit — but also as a tactic. The defence became renowned for a “Thou shalt not pass” ethos.
Ultimately Graham lost his job as league results worsened in 1995, amid off-field rumours about alleged “bungs.” It was a sad end to a wonderful era.
They say history repeats itself first as tragedy, second as farce — so Arsenal supporters everywhere must hope the lessons of 1991 are not replicated in the second leg against Benfica in Athens on Thursday.
Not least because we’d like to see far more of the creative Odegaard.
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RIP: Sven-Göran Eriksson