Sven-Goran Eriksson was ‘my favourite manager’ who made my time in an England shirt ‘incredible’

Ex-England star Aaron Lennon has heaped praise upon Sven-Goran Eriksson who he remembers as the 'most enjoyable manager' he had.

The news broke on Monday that Eriksson had sadly died at the age of 76.

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Back in January 2024, Eriksson shared the heartbreaking news that he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer, revealing to Sweden's P1 radio station that he had 'at best a year' to live.

The news hit many hard, with so many players and fans having been touched by the immense impact he made on them in his career, especially during the five years that he served as England manager.

One of those players was Lennon, who was handed his first senior international call-up by the Swede in 2006 at the age of just 19.

He went on to make 21 appearances for the Three Lions, featuring at two World Cups in his career.

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Despite a two-year absence from the international setup between 2007 and 2009, the former Tottenham and Everton winger was also favoured by later England bosses including Fabio Capello and Roy Hodgson.

However, there was one manager who stands out to Lennon to this day for the sheer positive impact he made on him.

"With me, I've said this to a few people, Sven was my most enjoyable manager," he told talkSPORT.

"I was young coming into the squad and he was amazing. An amazing man in every way. An amazing coach, an amazing man.

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"Honestly, it makes me sad actually thinking about it but honestly, I loved working with him. I can't speak highly enough of him.

"Like I said, throughout all the managers I had for England, he was by far my favourite manager."

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Lennon went on to explain that Eriksson had been one of the highlights of an international playing career which he really cherishes.

"As a whole, I enjoyed (playing for England), especially the early parts," he remembered. "I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed the camps. I thought the group was a lot more together, especially under Sven.

"But like I said, the games were amazing. Playing for England is incredible.

"You can play home or away and you feel like you're at a home game. The fans are so loud. You walk down the streets, whether you're in South Africa or the World Cup, and it's just England fans.

"They're just special memories for me. Like I said, some of the trips I've made, I didn't enjoy being on some of the long trips but putting on that shirt and walking out as an England player were some of the best memories of my career."

Eriksson, who oversaw England's 'Golden Generation' from 2001 to 2006, opened up his own reflections on his incredible career in a documentary on Amazon Prime.

In the programme, the 76-year-old delivers a message to fans as he asks fans to remember him as 'a positive guy trying to do everything he could do'.

"I had a good life. I think we are all scared of the day when we die, but life is about death as well.

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"You have to learn to accept it for what it is. Hopefully at the end people will say, ‘yeah, he was a good man’. But everyone will not say that."

"Don’t be sorry, smile," he adds. "Thank you for everything, coaches, players, the crowds, it’s been fantastic.

"Take care of yourself and take care of your life. And live it."