Player - Tough tackling Middlesbrough centre-back Ugo Ehiogu #18

Features

• Correct player size flock print professionally heat pressed
• Match detail stitched to front
• Swapped with a Sweden player and comes from their own personal collection - a signed letter verifying this will be provided

Notes - Ultra rare player shirt believed to have been issued to Ehiogu for the friendly match against Sweden, played at Old Trafford in Manchester on 10th November 2001. Both sides were gearing up for the World Cup and looking forward to the draw on the 1st of December. The match started well for the Three Lions with Trevor Sinclair earning a penalty that was calmly slotted home by David Beckham before the half-hour mark to give the hosts the lead. But the Swedes hit back just before the half-time whistle after Erik Edman's free kick was spilled by Nigel Martyn into the path of Hakan Mild who equalised from close range. The match ended in a 1-1 draw with both teams feeling they could've won the game. Little did the two sides know they would both be drawn into Group F for the upcoming 2002 World Cup just a couple weeks after this fixture. Ehiogu was an unused substitute for the match despite Sven-Göran Eriksson making mass changes throughout the friendly. The former West Brom man had earned his first cap back in 2000 and had scored his first international goal earlier this year against Spain. He would feature just once more for his country the following year against Italy and won 4 caps in total for the Three Lions and enjoyed the bulk of his club career with Aston Villa and Middlesbrough. The defender sadly passed away in 2017 and is fondly remembered by the whole footballing community.