Liverpool have announced that former England and Manchester City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson will be part of their management group for a charity match against Ajax next month.
A selection of Reds legends will welcome some all-time Ajax greats to Anfield on March 23 for the LFC Foundation charity contest, where Eriksson will fulfil his lifelong wish of managing the Merseyside giants.
Last month, the 76-year-old revealed that he only had a year to live at best after being diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer, and he told Sky Sports News that it had always been his ambition to take charge of Liverpool.
"My father is still alive and is still a Liverpool supporter, and I'm a Liverpool supporter as well – I've always been. So I always wished to be the manager of Liverpool, and that will not happen for sure, but I'm still a Liverpool fan," Eriksson said.
Following the Swede's admission, Jurgen Klopp - who will step down as Liverpool head coach at the end of the season - openly invited Eriksson to enjoy a "great few hours" coaching the Reds in the wake of his diagnosis.
"Sven, you are invited from the bottom of all our hearts to come here and you can have my office, you can lead a session if you want," Klopp said in his own interview with Sky Sports News. "Open arms. Come over here and let's have a few great hours together."
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Now, Liverpool have confirmed that Eriksson will form part of their management troupe for next month's charity contest, in which club legends John Barnes, John Aldridge and Ian Rush will also be in the dugout.
The Reds also announced the first handful of club legends taking part in the match, including goalkeepers Jerzy Dudek - a 2005 Champions League winner - and Sander Westerveld, who made over 100 appearances for the club from 1999 to 2001.
Defensive trio Fabio Aurelio, Martin Skrtel and Gregory Vignal are also scheduled to take part in the contest, as are attackers Djibril Cisse and Ryan Babel, the latter of whom will turn out for both teams on the day.
The remaining legends involved in the fixture will be revealed over the coming weeks by Liverpool, who said in a statement: "All connected with the club and LFC Foundation look forward to warmly welcoming LFC fan Sven and his family to Anfield - and seeing him in the dugout on the day - for a fantastic fundraising occasion.
"One hundred per cent of the proceeds raised from the fixture - which is presented by AXA, the club's official training partner - will support the work of LFC Foundation and its charity partners."
During an illustrious spell in football management and administration lasting over 45 years, Eriksson won 18 pieces of silverware, most notably leading Lazio to a Serie A, Coppa Italia and UEFA Super Cup treble in 2000.
The 76-year-old also masterminded IFK Goteborg's run to the UEFA Cup title in 1982 and spent five-and-a-half years in charge of the England team, overseeing their unforgettable 5-1 thumping of Germany in 2001.
Ben Knapton
