Where are they now? England and Spain XIs when Sven-Goran Eriksson became first foreign Three Lions manager
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Published 19/03/2025 at 19:19 GMT
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Sven-Goran Eriksson became the first overseas manager to take charge of England 24 years ago as the Swede led the Three Lions out at Villa Park for a 3-0 friendly win over Spain. The team would go on to reach three successive international tournament quarter-finals. Ahead of Thomas Tuchel's debut as the latest non-English manager for the side, we look back at where it all began for Eriksson.
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Thomas Tuchel will take charge of his first match as England manager when the Three Lions host Albania in a qualifier for the 2026 World Cup.
After all the discussion around his appointment, anthems and his first squad selection, eyes will be on Wembley to see how the German performs in the role for the very first time.
Of course, Tuchel is not the first overseas manager to take charge of England. Far from it, with the late Sven Goran-Eriksson leading the team between 2001 and 2006.
The Swede took the team to three international tournaments, exiting at the quarter-final stage each time before his departure.
This paved the way for Fabio Capello’s appointment, with the Italian in charge from 2008 to 2012.
For Eriksson, his first match in charge came on Wednesday, February 28, 2001, as his new-look side welcomed Spain to Villa Park while Wembley was undergoing its lengthy facelift.
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It was the perfect start to life in charge for Eriksson, with Nick Barmby chasing down a Michael Owen flick to stab past the onrushing Iker Casillas for 1-0.
As was to become a feature of international friendlies, Eriksson made several half-time changes and substitute Emile Heskey made it 2-0 ten minutes after the break.
Another sub, the late Ugo Ehiogu, headed in a third with 20 minutes to play, wrapping up a comfortable first win for Eriksson and getting England fans giddy with excitement over what was to potentially follow.
As Tuchel’s first team prepare for action, we look back at the very first starting XI that England’s first foreign manager named and what happened next.
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Sven-Goran Eriksson ahead of his first match in charge of England at Villa Park against Spain.
Image credit: Getty Images
England XI
David James – Goalkeeper (53 caps)
The then-Aston Villa stopper would become England No. 1 following the 2002 World Cup, replacing David Seaman, all the way through to Euro 2004, after which he lost his place to Paul Robinson.
He remained in Three Lions squads for the rest of Eriksson’s reign and under his successor Steve McClaren, but was not first choice and only reclaimed the shirt under Fabio Capello at the 2010 tournament. The 4-1 last-16 exit to Germany would be the last time he represented his country.
At club level, he would go on to play for West Ham, Manchester City, Portsmouth – where he won the FA Cup - Bournemouth, IBV Vestmannaeyjar in Iceland and Kerala Blasters in India before retirement.
Phil Neville – Right-back (59 caps)
The younger Neville sibling was largely a squad player for The Three Lions but was omitted for both the 2002 and 2006 World Cups.
He did feature at Euro 2004, however, and briefly played under McClaren, with his final match coming against Estonia in 2007.
Neville left Manchester United in 2005 for Everton before his 2013 retirement and, as well as part-owning Salford City with his fellow United ‘Class of 92’ alumni, has had managerial spells with England Women, Inter Miami and is currently in the dugout at Portland Timbers.
Chris Powell – Left-back (5 caps)
Despite impressing on this, his debut for his country, at 31, Powell would not go on to be a mainstay in the team, mostly only featuring in friendlies over the next year.
The Charlton legend would later have spells with West Ham, Watford and Leicester before moving into coaching and management, most notably leading Charlton to League One promotion in 2012.
He has also managed Huddersfield, Derby and Southend, as well as taking on coaching roles at ADO Den Haag, Spurs, England, and is currently at Sheffield Wednesday.
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Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson dies aged 76 after battle with cancer
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Rio Ferdinand – Centre-back (81 caps)
Ferdinand would eventually establish himself as first-choice under Eriksson following an impressive 2002 World Cup, although he missed Euro 2004 due to a ban.
Following his return later that year, he would regain his place for the foreseeable future, despite missing the 2010 World Cup with injury and being left out of the Euro 2012 squad by Roy Hodgson. After being recalled in 2013, the now-TNT Sports pundit opted to retire from international duty.
At club level, Ferdinand left Leeds for Manchester United in 2002 and enjoyed a glittering 12-year spell at Old Trafford. He then spent one season with QPR in 2014 before calling time on his playing career.
Sol Campbell – Centre-back (73 caps)
The Spurs captain was considered England’s No. 1 defender until 2006 but fell down the pecking order by the time of that year's World Cup due to the blossoming partnership of John Terry and Rio Ferdinand.
He made something of a comeback in a few matches of McClaren’s doomed Euro 2008 qualifying campaign, but played his last match for his country in the infamous 3-2 Wembley defeat to Croatia.
After winning two league titles with Arsenal, Campbell played for Portsmouth, Notts County and Newcastle before short-lived managerial spells with Macclesfield and Southend.
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Nick Barmby – Left midfield (23 caps)
Scoring the first goal of Eriksson’s reign wasn’t enough to keep him in favour for the long term with the Swede as he only played four more times for the Three Lions, although he did feature in the memorable World Cup qualifiers against Germany and Greece later that year.
Barmby left Liverpool in 2002 for Leeds before eventually joining hometown club Hull, where he remained until his retirement, even having a short spell as manager in 2012.
Nicky Butt – Centre midfield (39 caps)
Even though he was mostly a squad player, Butt would play 90 minutes in four of England’s five matches at the 2002 World Cup.
But a combination of injuries and competition with the likes of Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard meant appearances were sparse beyond this, and after missing Euro 2004, he played his last match in a friendly later that year.
Butt left Manchester United for Newcastle in 2004, notably helping the club to win the Championship in 2010 after relegation the previous year.
After retiring, Butt took on coaching roles at United until 2021, as well as being involved in the ownership of Salford City.
Paul Scholes – Centre midfield (66 caps)
Although a starter at the 2002 World Cup, Scholes became the fall guy for England’s stacked midfield and was often shoehorned out of position on the left to accommodate Lampard and Gerrard in the middle, including during Euro 2004.
The Manchester United star opted out of international football following that tournament and remained at Old Trafford until hanging up his boots in 2011.
He would come out of retirement for a season in 2013, winning an 11th Premier League with The Red Devils before his second send-off, Salford City purchase with his ex-teammates, and a very brief foray into management with Oldham.
He can also be found doing punditry on a channel not too far away from here…
David Beckham – Right midfield (115 caps)
Beckham would become one of England’s most iconic players over the next decade, captaining the side at the World Cups of 2002 and 2006, as well as Euro 2004, scoring famous goals against Greece and Argentina along the way.
Following Eriksson’s departure, McClaren attempted to move away from Beckham and dropped the star, but was forced to backtrack on his decision with his Euro 2008 qualifying campaign in peril - alas, to no avail in the end.
Beckham outlasted McClaren and played under Capello until injury ruled him out of the 2010 World Cup and signalled the end of his Three Lions career.
At club level, Beckham left Manchester United in 2003 to become a Real Madrid Galactico before a 2007 move to LA Galaxy in MLS. A loan move to AC Milan and a short stay at Paris Saint-Germain in 2013 brought the curtain down on his playing career.
As well as his involvement with Salford City, Beckham now also co-owns MLS side Inter Miami.
Andy Cole – Striker (15 caps)
A victim of England’s vast pool of strikers down the years, Cole’s international career never really took off, with him playing just four more times after this match, and ultimately, out of consideration before the end of the year.
He did, however, score his only goal for his country under Eriksson the following month in a 3-1 World Cup qualifying win over Albania.
Leaving Manchester United that year, Cole moved to Blackburn and scored the winning goal in the 2002 League Cup final before spells at Fulham, Manchester City, Birmingham, Sunderland, Burnley and Nottingham Forest.
Cole underwent a transplant in 2017 after suffering kidney failure.
Micheal Owen – Striker (89 caps)
Owen was initially Eriksson’s first-choice striker and led the line at the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004, but an ACL injury sustained at the 2006 tournament kept him out of the England set-up for a year.
Returning under McClaren, Owen impressed, but the Euro 2008 qualifying failure and further injuries brought an end to his international career.
Owen left Liverpool for Real Madrid in 2004 but was soon back in the Premier League with Newcastle before a controversial move to Manchester United. He ended his player career with Stoke City in 2013.
Subs: Nigel Martyn, Michael Ball, Gavin McCann, Ugo Ehiogu, Emile Heskey, Frank Lampard, Gary Neville
Manager: Sven-Goran Eriksson – Following his England tenure, Eriksson took over at Manchester City for a season, before a year with the Mexico national team, and then a director of football role with Notts County amid a bizarre takeover.
He then took charge of the Ivory Coast side for the 2010 World Cup before a return to club management with then-Championship Leicester, helping the Foxes stave off relegation to League One.
Spells in China followed with Guangzhou, Shanghai SIPG and Shenzhen respectively before his last role with the Philippines national side.
Eriksson announced he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2024 and passed away in August of that year.
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England and Spain line up ahead of the game
Image credit: Getty Images
Spain XI
Iker Casillas – Goalkeeper (167 caps)
Played for Spain until 2016, winning World Cup 2010 and Euro 2008 and 2012.
Also won several titles with Real Madrid before moving to Porto in 2015 and retiring following health issues in 2020.
Manuel Pablo – Right-back (13 caps)
Featured sporadically for the rest of the year and made a brief return to the national side for one game in 2004.
Remained at Deportivo for the rest of his career until retirement in 2016, aged 40.
Enrique Romero – Left-back (10 caps)
Another Deportivo defender from their La Liga winning side of 2000.
Featured for Spain at the 2002 World Cup.
Unai Vergara – Centre-back (1 cap)
Made his sole appearance for Spain in this match.
After leaving Villarreal in 2004, he would play mostly for lower league sides Elche, Lleida and Gava.
Abelardo – Centre-back (54 caps)
Legendary defender who captained Spain on the night as his final match for his country.
Left Barcelona the following summer for a year with Alaves before eventually moving into management.
Ivan Helguera – Midfielder (47 caps)
Would go on to play a part in the Spain squads for World Cup 2002 and Euro 2004.
Key player for Real Madrid until 2007 when he joined Valencia before retiring in 2009.
Pep Guardiola – Midfielder (47 caps)
Playing in the last of nine years for the Spanish national team at the age of 30.
Also left Barcelona that summer after 13 trophy-filled years for short spells with Brescia, Roma and Al-Ahli in Qatar and Dorados in Mexico before retiring in 2006.
Went into management with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City, becoming one of the most successful managers of all time.
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Pep Guardiola and Chris Powell
Image credit: Getty Images
Gaizka Mendieta – Midfielder (40 caps)
Classy midfielder who would feature at the 2002 World Cup before his final cap later that year.
At club level, he left Valencia for Lazio before a loan move to Barcelona and eventually ended up at Middlesbrough in the Premier League, winning the League Cup and retiring in 2008.
Luis Enrique - Midfielder (62 caps)
Also called time on his international career following the 2002 World Cup after 11 years.
Retired from playing completely at Barcelona in 2004 and moved into management with Roma and Celta Vigo before returning to the Camp Nou, winning several trophies.
Managed Spain to Euro 2020 semi-finals and World Cup 2022 round-of-16, exiting both tournaments on penalties.
Currently in charge at PSG.
Ismael Urzaiz – Striker (25 caps)
Making his final appearance for Spain against England – his last goal coming 12 matches and over a year prior, against Poland.
Had a better time of it at club level with 115 goals for Athletic Club between 1996 and 2007 before a brief spell at Ajax and retirement.
Raul – Striker (102 caps)
Featured for Spain at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups as well as Euro 2004, and would go on to become the country’s all-time top scorer with 44 goals until being overtaken by David Villa in 2011.
Won several honours with Real Madrid before joining Schalke, Al Saad and New York Cosmos and retiring in 2015.
Subs: Santiago Canizares, Paco Jemez, Javi Moreno, Victor Sanchez, Sergi Barjuan, Ruben Baraja, Joseba Etxeberria
Manager: Jose Antonio Camacho - The ex-Real Madrid player left his post with the national team following the 2002 World Cup exit, taking over at Benfica and winning the Portuguese Cup in 2004.
After leaving the club, he returned to Madrid but only survived six matches before going back to Benfica in 2007. He then had a spell with Osasuna before heading back into international management with China and Gabon.
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