When he was appointed by the Football Association in 2001, Sven-Göran Eriksson had already had a brilliant career as a coach – but the role of England coach proved to be his greatest challenge.
When he arrived, the Three Lions were in trouble. His predecessor, Kevin Keegan, had resigned in a Wembley toilet after the team's poor performance at Euro 2000.
Not everyone was happy with Eriksson's appointment. He was the first foreigner to take the position and when he walked into his first press conference he was met with a critic holding a sign that read: “You have insulted the English, FA, shame on you.”
“The Golden Generation”
But it didn’t take long for Eriksson to make a name for himself.
In September 2001, England beat Germany 5-1 in a game in which Michael Owen scored a memorable hat-trick.
The team was also supported by the talents David Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, who formed the so-called “Golden Generation”.
England qualified for the 2002 World Cup after Beckham converted a last-minute free kick to avoid a tricky play-off against Ukraine.
Hopes grew when the Three Lions defeated Denmark 3-0 in the round of 16.
But the encounter with Brazil in the quarter-finals was the first major disappointment in Eriksson's career in the English national team.
David Seaman's misjudgment of a Ronaldinho free kick meant the team's elimination, and Eriksson was also criticised for his hesitation in making substitutions and tactical changes.
English fans were bitterly disappointed – especially as they were up against Turkey in the semi-finals and Germany in the final (a team they had thrashed just five months earlier).
This was perhaps their best chance to hold out until the end.
Eriksson's contract was then extended and at the 2004 European Championship he led England (with the support of the youthful Wayne Rooney) to the quarter-finals.
Once again, England failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals after being eliminated by Portugal.
Critics complained that the talent of the Golden Generation was being lost, but the English Football Association (FA) held on to him until the 2006 World Cup.
England managed to beat Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago and Ecuador, but were again eliminated by Portugal in the quarter-finals (on penalties, of course).
Eriksson was then replaced by Steve McClaren.
