IS THERE a more popular ex-England manager than Sven-Goran Eriksson? Once the dust had settled on second-choice Steve’s regime it was clear that he left the England team in a pretty decent shape as he played Pinocchio to Thaksin Shinawatra’s Geppetto.

Another reason Sven is so highly regarded by England fans is due to his legendary status among the fairer sex. The Swede was frankly batting above his average when he snagged Nancy Dell’Olio and Ulrika-ka-ka Johnson and another notch on his bedpost emerged today in 2004 when details of Sven’s affair with FA secretary Faria Alam came out in the press.

This latest scandal came out just after England’s penalty shoot-out loss to Portugal in Euro 2004. While Sven was trying to smooth talk Nancy, the FA had more egg on their face as more allegations came out of Soho Square that Chief Executive Mark Palios had also got his end away with Faria.



While the rest of the nation wondered if working for the FA was like starring in a Carry On film, Sven got on with his job and ensured that England qualified for the 2006 World Cup. Back at the FA Palios fell on his sword and Brian Barwick was appointed Chief Executive. Faria somehow managed to resist the new head honcho in the FA, concentrating on a media career that saw a somewhat predictable turn in Celebrity Big Brother.

See one of Sven’s best moments during his tenure in charge of England - on the pitch that is - and if you can’t wait until tomorrows instalment of footballing history then check out what we were on about this time last year here.

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