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Sven faces toughest challenge

Author: Sir David Smith
Date: 25/07/2009

A single was released in 2001 entitled "Sven, Sven, Sven" to commemorate England's 5-1 victory over the Germans in Munich.

But less than eight years later, Sven-Goran Eriksson has gone from national treasure to director of the 87th best club in the Football League - Notts County.

The Magpies are the oldest club in the Football League, but have never featured in the Premier League.

For Sven, it's the biggest task of his managerial career. He has to take the Munto Finance-backed club from the doldrums of League Two to the bright lights of the top-flight, eclipsing the tasks he faced with England, Mexico, Lazio, Roma, Sampdoria or Benfica.

But is Sven's five-year stay at Meadow Lane the biggest challenge in his long career, or a low point?

Can Sven lead the Magpies to League Two glory? - Latest Football Betting

His time with the Magpies will certainly be more eventful than his playing career. Reaching the dizzy heights of division two in Sweden, Sven was a limited right-back who retired at the tender age of 27.

But he was destined for great things as a manger, taking the reins at Degerfors just three years later. He received his big break a year after that, leading Goteborg to a treble success which included the UEFA Cup.

Sven became well-known throughout Europe and moved for the first of two spells with Benfica in the 1980s. Spells in Serie A followed and he affirmed his status as one of the top managers in world football with Lazio in the late 1990s.

He lifted the Coppa Italia, Italian Super Cup, the last-ever European Cup Winners' Cup and UEFA Super Cup before the ultimate glory of winning Serie A in 2000.

After guiding Lazio to the most successful period in their history, Sven attracted the interest of the FA and took over as England boss in 2001.

Off-field distractions did not detract from a successful England team, which should have won major silverware.

Quarter-final defeats in major tournaments to Brazil and Portugal (twice) between 2002-06 led to him being replaced as England boss, but the statistics point to Sven being the second most successful England manager of all time behind Sir Alf Ramsey.

Manchester City followed, before he was controversially axed after a reasonably successful season in charge. But his luck didn't pick up, as he endured a torrid time with the Mexicans.

And to the present day. Ambitious Notts County have come calling and as long as Sven doesn't train their full-backs, he should be a success.

His track record is proven as a winner and, despite being in the smallest job he's had since the 70s, he could quickly turn the Magpies from minnows to the next big thing.

Online betting markets have been turned upside down already, with County being installed as favourites to win the League Two title and secure promotion.

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