Sven-Goran Eriksson understandably looked emotional as he walked onto the Anfield pitch for Liverpool’s charity match against Ajax on Saturday.
The Swede, who has terminal cancer, was handed the opportunity to fulfil a dream of managing the Reds in the legends game.
Eriksson revealed in January that he has a year at most to live after he was diagnosed with cancer.
The former England boss had a successful coaching career and also managed Manchester City and Leicester in the Premier League.
Sven-Goran Eriksson looked emotional as he walked out at Liverpool’s legends match
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But the lifelong Liverpool fan did not get the chance to manage his beloved Reds during his career.
Liverpool heard of Eriksson’s dream and got in touch to invite him to Saturday’s charity game.
He was part of the coaching team alongside the likes of John Barnes, Ian Rush and John Aldridge.
Eriksson spoke at a pre-match press conference on Friday before leading the teams out on Saturday.
He walked onto the pitch on his own with a young mascot to take in the acclaim from the capacity Anfield crowd.
The players soon followed and he lined up alongside Liverpool’s captain Steven Gerrard, whom he managed when in charge at England.
Gerrard put his arm around his former manager before making him smile with something he said.
Liverpool’s famous You’ll Never Walk Alone anthem was then sung around the ground and Eriksson looked moved by the moment.
Eriksson also met with current Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp before the match.
He told the German was ‘doing great’ ahead of his exit at the end of the season.
Eriksson said this week that his love for Liverpool comes from his father who doesn’t miss a match on TV in Sweden.
The 76-year-old said: “My father was a Liverpool fan, still is a Liverpool fan, so it [his love for the club] came from there.
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Sven-Goran Eriksson had a laugh alongside former Liverpool and England captain Steven Gerrard
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“It’s like a dream [taking charge of the legends team] and when they asked I thought it was a joke.
“But I said: ‘Of course I will come,’ and it is for charity which makes it even more lovely.
“Anfield has maybe the best atmosphere in the world and part of that is the song when the players come out: You’ll Never Walk Alone.
“It makes me [gestures to show his hair standing on end] and I’m looking forward to hearing it on Saturday.
Sven-Goran Eriksson fulfilled a dream by managing the Liverpool legends team
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“I’m very honoured and thankful to Liverpool that they give me this opportunity.
“I’m very lucky that all the things I did well are being celebrated while I’m still alive.
“That’s not normal; usually you have to die before people tell you how good you were. I’m very happy they’re telling me while I’m still alive.”
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