Rivals often, but never enemies. There have been many battles between us, especially in Rome when the derbies were worth the titles. I was on the bench for Roma, while he coached Lazio. However, when I think of Sven Goran Eriksson, I never see a rival. In fact, my fondest memory of him is not related to the pitch at all. It was during a summer vacation in Portugal when Sven invited me to his beautiful home in Cascais. Just 200 meters from the ocean, the view was stunning, and he had furnished his place with elegant Italian furniture. He truly was a man of class.
For once, we spent the entire afternoon discussing topics beyond football. We talked about family, the sea, and life in general. It was a lovely moment that I still cherish today. Of course, there are memories of our many encounters on the field. Sven had already made a name for himself in Sweden with Goteborg and in Portugal with Benfica before arriving in Italy. He was an outstanding coach, not just for his victories. His Sampdoria and later his Lazio teams were strong and enjoyable to watch. On and off the pitch, he reminded me of Niels Liedholm, whom I knew very well. Eriksson came from the ‘Barone’ school, reflecting not only football concepts but also the elegance and politeness typical of Swedes when interacting with referees and opponents. It was impossible to speak poorly of him.
Despite the tension of those years, when Roma and Lazio always played to win, I can’t recall a single inappropriate word from him or about him. Even the notorious Roman radio stations couldn’t stir controversy around someone like Eriksson. It was just impossible.
If I had to pick a specific match against a team managed by Sven, it would undoubtedly be our first Roman derby as opponents on November 21, 1999. I prepared the game by telling my players to exploit the area where Sinisa Mihajlovic was playing. Sinisa was exceptional going forward, but sometimes it left Lazio vulnerable. That intuition paid off, as we dominated and won 4-1, sparking incredible enthusiasm among the Roma fans. However, at the end of that season, it was Sven who celebrated, as his remarkable Lazio clinched the title while we finished sixth. Thankfully, we redeemed ourselves the following year, keeping the championship within the city but coloring it in Roma’s red and yellow.
In fact, Eriksson and I share something unique: we are the last two coaches to have brought the Scudetto to Rome. That alone gives me reason to remember Sven with a smile. Farewell, great gentleman.