Sven-Goran Eriksson reveals colleague who he ‘always thought was a piece of s***’ during England spell in tell-all book
SVEN GORAN-ERIKSSON has revealed the colleague he “always thought was a piece of s**” during his England tenure.
The former Three Lions boss sadly passed away last month after a battle with cancer.
Eriksson revealed his diagnosis at the start of the year.
And tributes came from all over the football world, with stars like David Beckham among the attendees at his recent funeral in Sweden.
Now, a new tell-all book is set to be published lifting the lid on Eriksson’s life.
Titled ‘A Wonderful Journey’, it will even talk about his raunchy love life from the Swede’s perspective.
Eriksson had affairs with Ulrika Jonsson and Faria Alam during his relationship with Nancy Dell’Olio, which ended in 2007
Alam was a working as a secretary for the FA at the time their affair was revealed in 2004.
And she also had an affair with FA chief executive Mark Palios, which was not publicly known back then.
Eriksson claims he was advised by the FA to do an interview with now-defunct paper News of the World about his relationship with Alam.
But they warned him not to make any mention of her affair to Palios, leaving Eriksson fuming.
And according to Swedish outlet Expressen, he used the occasion to brand Palios a “piece of s***” in a conversation with then-FA director of communications Colin Gibson.
Eriksson said: “I would be sacrificed to save Mark Palios’ skin.
“I told Colin Gibson that he was a piece of s*** and that I had always thought so.
“He knew that, we never got along well.”
Eriksson claims Gibson did not last much longer in his job, with reports later alleging he offered to reveal all the details of the Swede’s affair with Alam in return for keeping Palios’ relationship secret.
Palios resigned from his role when news of his affair with Alam broke.
SVEN'S AMAZING CAREER
1977 – Having played football professionally in Sweden, Sven-Goran Eriksson kicked off his managerial career with Swedish side Degerfors.
2000 – He guided Lazio to the Serie A title to become one of the hottest coaches in the world.
2001 – Following the resignation of Kevin Keegan, he was appointed England’s next permanent manager in February 2001. He oversaw 66 games with the Three Lions, winning 39 and losing just 12.
2002 – Eriksson led England to the 2002 World Cup with the likes of Steven Gerrard, Paul Scholes and David Beckham in his squad. The Three Lions were knocked out in the quarter-finals.
2004 – The legendary manager also led the Three Lions to Euro 2004, but they were knocked out of the quarter-finals to Portugal.
2006 – Eriksson led England to another World Cup, his final tournament in charge, before resigning.
2007 – The Swede took charge of Manchester City a year after leaving the England job and oversaw 45 games.
2010 – Having coached Mexico, Ivory Coast and Notts County after parting ways with Man City, Erikson took charge of Leicester and saved them from relegation. Following his time with the Foxes he went on to manage China and Philippines.
2024 – In January 2024, Eriksson announced he had been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. Three months later, he fulfilled a lifelong dream of managing Liverpool in a legends match at Anfield, before passing away in August.
Neither Gibson nor Palios has commented on Eriksson’s claims.
But Eriksson maintains he himself did nothing wrong when he was seeing Alam.
He added: “The paparazzi photographers never got any pictures of me and Faria Alam.
“I was very careful, we never met at her house or mine. But the press started digging, friends of her contacted.
“Someone knew, someone gossiped. I suspected that it was Faria herself and I felt both betrayed and cursed.
“I have been asked many times if I regret meeting Faria Alam and Ulrika Jonsson. Well, if I had known what would come of it, then I might have called it all off.
“But morally, I don’t understand. Shouldn’t I, just because I was the national team manager, get to meet and have a relationship with whoever I wanted?”
SVEN'S ENGLAND RECORD - 2001-2006
Matches 67
Wins 40
Draws 17
Losses 10
Win percentage 59.7
World Cup 2002
Lost 2-1 to Brazil in quarter-final
Euros 2004
Lost on penalties to Portugal in quarter-final
World Cup 2006
Lost on penalties to Portugal in quarter-final