Sven-Goran Eriksson's final goodbye just days before tragic news of his death
Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson shared a poignant goodbye message just a few days before he passed away following a battle with pancreatic cancer
Sven-Goran Eriksson issued an emotional goodbye message just days before passing away following a battle with pancreatic cancer.
The former England boss' death was announced on Monday, with the 76-year-old passing in his home surrounded by his family. Last week, Amazon Prime released a documentary about Eriksson's life, titled Sven , at the end of which he bid the public a poignant farewell.
"I had a good life," the Swede said. "I think we are all scared of the day when we die, but life is about death as well. You have to learn to accept it for what it is. Hopefully at the end people will say, yeah, he was a good man, but everyone will not say that."
He continues with a moving message: "I hope you will remember me as a positive guy trying to do everything he could do. Don't be sorry, smile. Thank you for everything, coaches, players, the crowds, it's been fantastic. Take care of yourself and take care of your life. And live it. Bye."
His moving words form the centrepiece of the inspiring documentary, which charts the former manager's extraordinary journey through the beautiful game. It also delves into his personal life, from his various flings to the health battle which ultimately claimed his life.
Eriksson's cancer diagnosis was announced in January. At the time, the former Manchester City and Leicester City boss said he had, at best, "a year to live". He ended up living a further eight months.
In the UK, Eriksson is best remembered for his five-year stint in charge of the England national team. He became the country's first foreign coach, and managed them at three major tournaments between 2001 and 2006.
But despite spearheading a side brimming with talented stars like Wayne Rooney, David Beckham and Steven Gerrard, Sven's team were knocked out at the quarter-final stage each time. Throughout his stint, Eriksson's romances frequently grabbed the headlines, with dalliances such as his affair with high-society lawyer Nancy Dell'Olio, and flings with TV host Ulrika Jonsson and FA secretary Faria Alam, becoming public obsessions.
The documentary digs into the expected last chapters of his life after he disclosed in January that he was battling pancreatic cancer and had "at best" one year left. Sven devoted almost every moment after his diagnosis to his home in Sunne, Sweden, rekindling bonds with family.
On a visit to Fryken lake nearby last autumn, he reflected: "Beautiful place, it makes you calm. It makes me calm. Below the mountain there my father grew up."
"Straight ahead, that is Thornsby where I grew up. And Sunne where I was born."
Glancing at the lake, he continued: "I always thought it's a great place to sleep. The ashes could be thrown into the water here. It feels like home."
The film captures serene days of reading, playing card games, and savouring meals with son Johan, daughter Lina, and his companion of 15 years, Yaniseth Bravo. Sven opens up about seeing many significant things to him, it's not just family being his solace during the lakeside excursion.
At times, he requires the supportive touch of his children's hands on his back to steady himself when breathlessness overcomes him. Sven reflects on his condition with a sense of acceptance, saying: "Life is not 100%. I've had injections for many months, now they [doctors] change to taking pills."
He acknowledges the side effects, noting: "It is a lot of big effects on the throat and the nose, but that is part of it and I can live with that." Remaining philosophical about his situation, Sven adds: "I know life will not last for ever. But I am OK."
His friend Anders Runebjer observes the positive change in Sven's life, commenting: "Sunne is a very good place to come back to. He has resettled and he has found peace I think."
Unfortunately, Sven's health prevented him from attending the London promotion of his film, indicating that his time was near. His children represented him at the event.
Lina, his daughter, emotionally shares: "I think it has taken time to process and he has come a long way now than initially." She reveals a renewed bond with her father, stating: "It is only very recently that I have been able to reconnect with dad and to have a very different relationship than I had with him as a teenager."
Lina expresses a profound realization: "You realise the value of life. And that what you thought was important isn't important. It's hard to imagine a life without him."
Reflecting on his past, Sven admits to his shortcomings as a father following his divorce from Ann-Christine Pettersson in 1994, but he remains hopeful about the impact he had on his children's lives. Yaniseth, Sven's partner, clings to hope despite the grim prognosis, saying: "We have been together for 15 years and I'm hoping that we'll be together for many years to come. I'll never lose this hope. I can't."
Sven recalls the alarming incident leading to his cancer revelation, describing how a bout of dizziness one morning escalated rapidly. Johan recounts the urgent situation: "I had 10 missed calls from my sister. Dad's in the emergency room and he is not in a good way."
Following five strokes, Sven's brain tumour was finally detected by doctors. After hanging up his boots at 27, Sven embarked on a journey through football management, beginning with Degerfors and steering them to victory in the Swedish Football Division 2 in 1978.
His career surged forward with successful stints at IFK Goteborg and later Benfica and Roma, before departing Lazio in 2000 to break new ground as England's first foreign manager. Despite leading England's "Golden Generation" with stars like David Beckham and Wayne Rooney, ultimate success eluded Sven.
His tenure did feature memorable moments, such as demolishing Germany 5-1 in Munich during the 2002 World Cup qualifiers. David Beckham expresses his affection in the film: "I loved him from day one. The way he protected the players was a breath of fresh air. What he did for me was incredible."
The curtains closed on Sven's England chapter following a defeat to Portugal on penalties in the 2006 World Cup. He went on to manage various teams, including Manchester City, up until 2019.
This March marked a milestone for Sven, as he managed Liverpool in an Anfield legends match an homage to his childhood club. The joyous occasion saw the Reds triumph over Ajax 4-2, and Sven received a standing ovation from the fans.
Sven, the football legend, is not only known for his on-field strategies but also for a colourful personal life that included a near-decade-long relationship with Italian Nancy Dell'Olio. The romance was almost derailed by his affair with TV celebrity Ulrika Jonsson.
His escapades continued with an affair with FA secretary Faria Alam in 2004. Financial blunders cost Sven dearly, yet he shrugged them off saying he simply went out and "earned more".
Reflecting on his past, Sven shares in the documentary: "It was like a fairy tale." He added: "It was not a normal life. I had a good life, maybe too good, you have to pay for it."
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Related
Share this page
Guest Posts by Easy Branches
