Took him to Man City when he was 20: Gelson Fernandes remembers terminally ill former coach Eriksson

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There was a great stir when former star coach Sven-Göran Eriksson informed the public about his cancer in January. “In the best case, I still have a year to live,” the Swede explained.

The 76-year-old has seen and experienced a lot in his long and successful career. He coached teams in seven countries on four continents for more than four decades. However, the former English coach has not yet been able to realize his big dream of coaching Liverpool FC. Because this is expected to change on March 23. The “Reds” announced that Eriksson will be able to look after the Liverpool legend team in the charity match against Ajax Amsterdam at Anfield Road. A very special farewell game.

Gelson Fernandes (37) will also try to be there in Liverpool, he explains to Blick. He has a very special relationship with the terminally ill Eriksson.

“He did a lot for me”

In the summer of 2007, Eriksson was introduced as the new coach at Manchester City. A coup, because City was only an average Premier League club before the sheikh took power in 2008. A few days after taking office, the star coach made his first transfer: Fernandes, then 20 years old, came over from FC Sion. For the Swede, the Cape Verde-born midfielder was “the best young player in Switzerland” at the time.

Fernandes quickly becomes a regular player. To this day, Gelson is eternally grateful to his former coach: “He did a lot for me and my family. It was extraordinary to be given such an opportunity in the Premier League as a young player.”

Eriksson’s dismissal will spell Fernandes’ downfall

Although City finished the season in a respectable ninth place, Eriksson’s time with the “Skyblues” ended after eleven months – against the wishes of the fans, who supported Eriksson unconditionally. The coach also enjoys a good reputation within the team. “Despite what was actually a good season, the club owner wanted to change something. That hurt me a lot,” Fernandes remembers. The Valais therefore no longer progresses beyond the role of additional player and leaves the Northern English team a year later.

Fernandes’ transfer to Leicester City in the summer of 2011 also proves that he felt comfortable under Eriksson. “I also had an offer from Cagliari in Serie A. But because of him I went to Leicester in the second division.”

Unfortunately for Fernandes, who played for ten different clubs in his professional career, this adventure also comes to an end quickly. In the autumn of the same year, Eriksson was released from Leicester and the then Nati player found himself on the substitutes’ bench.

“I hope for a miracle”

Fernandes has not been in touch with his former coach recently. “I’m going to see him in Liverpool. He’s such a good person. I hope he lives longer than a year. Maybe we will experience a miracle.”

Source : Blick