Sven-Goran Eriksson says Sir Alex Ferguson showed his true colours when they fell out

Sven Goran Eriksson said Sir Alex Ferguson could be hard to handle (Image: Getty)

Sven-Goran Eriksson has recalled how Sir Alex Ferguson became incredibly difficult to deal with when he was rubbed up the wrong way. Eriksson, 76, is facing the final stages of his battle against terminal illness and has opened up about his life, including his run-in with Fergie, in a new Amazon documentary, entitled 'Sven.'

The Swede is perhaps best known for his spell in charge of England between 2001 and 2006, when he oversaw two World Cups and a European Championship during the Three Lions' 'golden generation' of talent. He worked with the likes of Michael Owen, David Beckham, Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes - as well as a young up-and-coming Wayne Rooney.

It was the latter who got him into a bit of trouble with Ferguson as the 2006 World Cup in Germany approached. Rooney was a doubt going into the tournament after breaking his metatarsal while playing for Manchester United in a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea in April that year.

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However, Sven still wanted the star striker to play a big part in his World Cup plans, with an England doctor visiting the then-20-year-old striker to assess if he would be fit by the time the tournament rolled around. Sven's choice to include him in the squad ruffled the feathers of arguably Manchester United's greatest ever manager.

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Speaking in his new Amazon Prime documentary, 'Sven', Goran-Eriksson recalled: "I said to the players 'I can't see any team which is stronger than us'. The problem was Rooney of course. Rooney, as always, doesn't know where to stop - so I think he created that injury a little bit by himself.

"I had a lot of phonecalls from Sir Alex - strange man when you touch Manchester United in a way he doesn't like, he stops to be a gentleman," Sven said with a smile on his face. "He [Rooney] was desparate to play, and whatever you asked him; 'no problem, no problem, no problem'. Maybe he shouldn't have been picked."

Sven ultimately took Wayne Rooney to the 2006 World Cup (Image: Getty) SUBSCRIBE Invalid email

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It was later claimed by former Football Association vice-chairman, David Dein, that it was the only time that he ever saw Sven annoyed. Writing in his book, 'Calling the Shots: How to Win in Football and Life' shared in the Daily Mail, he wrote: "The only time I ever saw Sven annoyed was when Sir Alex Ferguson called him at our World Cup base in 2006.

"Fergie was furious that Wayne Rooney was going to play at the World Cup, with England gambling on his recovery from a broken metatarsal. 'You’re finished,' he screamed. Sven lost it. 'F*** off,' he said. 'Alex, I will pick Rooney. Have a nice holiday. Ciao, bye'."

Rooney didn't play at the 2006 World Cup until England's second Group B fixture against Trinidad and Tobago, coming on as a substitute for Owen in the 58th-minute. Despite playing every game from there on in, his only goal came in the form of a penalty during the tense quarter-final shootout with Portugal which saw England exit the tournament.

Sven ultimately parted ways with the England job after the Three Lions' World Cup exit, when he was replaced by Steve McClaren. The Swede would go on to manage the likes of Manchester City, Mexico, Leicester, Shanghai SIPG, Shenzen and the Philippines before retiring from management in 2019.

Sven-Goran Eriksson says Sir Alex Ferguson showed his true colours when they fell out

Sven-Goran Eriksson says Sir Alex Ferguson showed his true colours when they fell out

Sven-Goran Eriksson says Sir Alex Ferguson showed his true colours when they fell out

Sven-Goran Eriksson says Sir Alex Ferguson showed his true colours when they fell out

Sven-Goran Eriksson says Sir Alex Ferguson showed his true colours when they fell out