View source for Georg Ericson

{{Short description|Swedish footballer (1919–2002)}}
{{Cleanup bare URLs|date=September 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Georg Ericson
| image = Selectie Zweedse elftal voor WK voetbal in trainingskamp in Mönchen Gladblach t, Bestanddeelnr 927-2494.jpg
| caption = Ericson in 1974
| full_name = 
| birth_date = {{birth date|1919|12|18|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Torshag]], [[Åby, Norrköping Municipality|Åby]], Sweden
| death_date = {{death date and age|2002|1|4|1919|12|18|df=y}}
| height = 
| position = [[Midfielder]]
| youthyears1 = 
| youthclubs1 = 
| years1 = 
| clubs1 = [[IFK Norrköping]]
| caps1 = 
| goals1 = 
| nationalyears1 = 1949
| nationalteam1 = [[Sweden national football B team|Sweden B]]
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| manageryears1 = 1958–1966
| managerclubs1 = [[IFK Norrköping]]
| manageryears2 = 1971–1979
| managerclubs2 = [[Sweden men's national football team|Sweden]]
}} 
'''Georg "Åby" Ericson''' (18 December 1919 – 4 January 2002), also nicknamed '''Jojje''', was a Swedish [[association football|football]] player and coach. During his playing career as a [[midfielder]] he played for [[IFK Norrköping]] in the 1940s. He also featured once for the [[Sweden national football B team|Sweden B]] team in 1949.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Georg Ericson - Spelarstatistik - Svensk fotboll |url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/spelarfakta/georg-ericson/28a17a05-b6c8-4bf4-908c-905ebf5e21cf/ |access-date=5 January 2023 |website=www.svenskfotboll.se. |language=sv}}</ref> Later he became the coach of his old club.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gruvstugan.com/tranare.htm|title = Tränare |date = n.d. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303200418/http://www.gruvstugan.com/tranare.htm |archive-date=2016-03-03 |url-status=usurped}}</ref> He was the third national manager of the [[Sweden men's national football team|Sweden national team]]. He began this employment in 1970, soon after the [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup 1970 in Mexico]], replacing [[Orvar Bergmark]]. He stayed in office until 1979 when he was succeeded by [[Lars Arnesson|Lars "Laban" Arnesson]]. During his time as Swedish national manager he led Sweden to two [[FIFA World Cup|World Cups]]: [[1974 FIFA World Cup|1974]] in Germany and [[1978 FIFA World Cup|1978]] in Argentina.

== Managerial career ==

=== 1974 Qualification and World Cup ===
After a qualifying group including [[Sweden men's national football team|Sweden]], [[Hungary national football team|Hungary]], [[Austria national football team|Austria]] and [[Malta national football team|Malta]], which eventually led to the "''Snömatchen''" (or "Snowgame" in English),<ref>{{cite web|author=Bernt Lagergren |url=http://www.svt.se/sport/roland-sandberg-hjalte-i-snomatchen-mot-osterrike |title=Roland Sandberg – hjälten i snömatchen mot Österrike - Sport |date=4 October 2013 |publisher=SVT.se |access-date=21 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.svtplay.se/klipp/1510184/klassiska-snomatchen-osterrike-sverige |title=Klassiska snömatchen Österrike-Sverige &#124; SVT Play |publisher=Svtplay.se |date=6 July 2013 |access-date=21 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325203858/http://www.svtplay.se/klipp/1510184/klassiska-snomatchen-osterrike-sverige |archive-date=25 March 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=3727&artikel=5556879 |title=40 år sen snömatchen mot Österrike - nytt kvaldrama på fredag? - Eftermiddag P4 Värmland &#124; Sveriges Radio |newspaper=Sveriges Radio |date=5 June 2013 |publisher=Sverigesradio.se |access-date=21 March 2014}}</ref><ref name="svenskfotboll2005">{{cite web|url=https://svenskfotboll.se/arkiv/tidigare/2005/05/malta-fran-gzira-till-gelsenkirchen/ |title=Malta: Från Gzira till Gelsenkirchen — |publisher=Svenskfotboll.se |date=15 November 1973 |access-date=21 March 2014}}</ref> a single extra game, deciding the qualification group winner. It was played on neutral ground, in [[Gelsenkirchen]], [[West Germany]], against Austria. The game was played in November 1973, and heavy snow had fallen just before the game. Sweden won 2–1 and qualified for the [[FIFA World Cup 1974]] in West Germany.<ref name="svenskfotboll2005" /> where they drew 0–0 against both [[Bulgaria national football team|Bulgaria]] and the eventual runners up, [[Netherlands national football team|the Netherlands]]. After a 3–0 victory over [[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay]] in the third game, Sweden qualified for the second round. Here Sweden had to play against the [[West Germany national football team|West German]] hosts, and eventual World Champions. Sweden lost 4–2, after having had a 1–0 lead in half time, and also equalized a German 2–1 lead. The two last German goals came late in the game. Sweden also lost 1–0 to [[Poland national football team|Poland]] but defeated [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]] 2–1, and finished as number five of the entire championships.

=== 1978 Qualification and World Cup ===
Ericsson also led Sweden to the [[FIFA World Cup 1978]] in Argentina, after defeating [[Norway national football team|Norway]] and [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]] in the qualifications. In Argentina Sweden drew 1–1 against [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] in their opening game, after [[Thomas Sjöberg]] had opened the scoring. A goal that was amazingly preceded of 7 or 8 Swedish passes. But Brazil equalized soon before half-time. This was considered "very well done".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogg.fotbollskanalen.se/ekwall/2013/01/29/har-ar-hela-lee-truppen-tack-ralf/ |title=Här är hela Lee-truppen (tack, Ralf!) {{!}} Patrick Ekwalls blogg |website=blogg.fotbollskanalen.se |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325191806/http://blogg.fotbollskanalen.se/ekwall/2013/01/29/har-ar-hela-lee-truppen-tack-ralf/ |archive-date=25 March 2014}}</ref><ref>http://sverigesradio.se/sida/gruppsida.aspx?programid=2835&grupp=12344&artikel=1306983 headline 1978</ref><ref>Kvällsposten 3 June 1978, first page and sport pages</ref><ref>G.T. 3 June 1978, first page and sport pages</ref><ref>Aftonbladet 3 June 1978, first page and sport pages</ref> Defeats against Austria and [[Spain national football team|Spain]] followed, and Sweden were eliminated.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://svenskfotboll.se/svensk-fotboll/arkiv/tidigare/2002/01/svensk-fotboll-sorjer-georg-aby-ericson/ Obituary at the website of the Swedish football association]

{{navboxes
|title=Sweden squads
|bg= #FFF01C
|fg= #005B99
|bordercolor= #005B99
|list1=
{{Sweden squad 1974 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Sweden squad 1978 FIFA World Cup}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title= Georg Ericson managerial positions
|list1=
{{IFK Norrköping managers}}
{{Sweden national under-21 football team managers}}
{{Sweden men's national football team managers}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ericson, Georg}}
[[Category:1919 births]]
[[Category:2002 deaths]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Swedish men's footballers]]
[[Category:IFK Norrköping players]]
[[Category:Swedish football managers]]
[[Category:IFK Norrköping managers]]
[[Category:Sweden men's national football team managers]]
[[Category:1974 FIFA World Cup managers]]
[[Category:1978 FIFA World Cup managers]]
[[Category:20th-century Swedish sportsmen]]