Sven-Goran Eriksson has 'at best a year to live' in cancer announcement
Former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson has revealed that he has terminal cancer.
The 75-year-old also disclosed that doctors fear he has at best a year to live or a little less in the worse case scenario. The diagnosis was made last year after he collapsed while out on a run, with doctors discovering he is seriously ill.
Eriksson told Sweden's P1 radio station: "Everyone understands that I have an illness that is not good. Everyone guesses it's cancer and it is. But I have to fight as long as I can."
When asked what the prognosis is, he replied that he has "maybe at best a year, at worst a little less, or at best maybe even longer. You can't be absolutely sure. It is better not to think about it".
Speculation about his health grew after he resigned from his post as sporting director of Karlstad in his home country. The full diagnosis was made after he suddenly collapsed while out on a 5km run, with doctors also finding he had suffered a stroke.
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He added: "It is not good. Everyone guessed it's cancer and it is. But I have to fight as long as I can. But you can trick your brain.
"See the positive in things, don't wallow in adversity, because this is the biggest adversity of course, but make something good out of it. They don't know how long I had cancer, maybe a month or a year."
Eriksson enjoyed a glittering managerial career, taking charge of the likes of Roma, Benfica, Lazio, Manchester City and Mexico. He would win more than 13 major titles, including three Primeira Ligas with Benfica and Serie A twice with Lazio.
But it was with England where the Swedish boss truly launched himself into managerial superstardom. He took over from Kevin Keegan in 2001, leading the Three Lions to the last 16 of the 2002 World Cup, as well as the quarter-finals of Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup.
Eriksson shot himself into managerial superstardom with England (Getty Images)
Eriksson pictured with David Beckham and the England players (Claudio Villa)During his five-year spell, Eriksson was in charge of the so-called 'Golden Generation', though failed to win any silverware with them. He did take charge of the legendary 5-1 win over Germany, as well as several other stand-out games, though failed to deliver on the team's expectations.
Eriksson was defensive of his reign despite their failure to win any silverware though. Ahead of the 2022 World Cup, the former England boss hit out at critics of the move to play both Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard.
"I think it worked. We reached the quarter-finals and we should have done better. Gerrard and Lampard could play together. I can't see that. And I know that the media many times said they can't play together," Eriksson told Mirror Football. "But I should have asked the media 'who shall we put in and who shall we put out?' I mean, they were so fantastic, good both of them. Then if you put Scholes and Beckham there. I mean normally you play the best players.
"And Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard were two very intelligent football players. Of course they can play together, if one attacks, the other stays. So I couldn't see any big problem."
Eriksson made headlines amid news of his affair with Ulrika Jonsson whilst in a relationship with Nancy Dell'Olio (Fiona Hanson/PA)Eriksson was also famous for his love life, having relationships with Nancy Dell'Olio, Ulrika Jonsson and Faria Alam. He eventually split from Dell'Olio in August 2007, with Eriksson later revealing he was not prepared for the scrutiny over his private life.
“I thought I was prepared for England but I was not prepared for things outside football, my private life. I am not very proud that fans could probably name three of my former girlfriends," he told the History channel. “I don’t think it damaged my football results. But my image outside football it damaged, yes. My private life was not very private in England.
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“In 2002, when it came out about a woman, well a Swedish one (Jonsson) I wondered what I should tell the players. It had nothing to do with football.
"But I was their manager and we were going into a World Cup. I told them ‘sorry’ but one of players stood up and said: ‘Boss, welcome to England’. That was it. I felt good. It was over.”
Jonsson once claimed their love life was "as exciting as assembling an IKEA bookcase".
TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson in 2001 (PA)
The former FA secretary Faria AlamOne of the Swede's many mistresses was millionairess Marisa Cauchi, who enjoyed a relationship with the ex-Manchester City boss for four years. She ended it when she found out she was one of five other women in a harem.
"I was with Sven for four years and he broke my heart. He told me he loved me and promised we’d come out as a couple. In reality he was keeping me a secret so he could romance other women," she told the Mirror.
Eriksson also revealed in his 2013 autobiography that he once slept with a married woman on her sofa when her husband came home and caught them. The revelation was eventually cut from the final draft, but the memo didn't get to publishers in Norway who released the uncensored version.
"We soon found ourselves naked on the sofa," wrote Eriksson. "She had not said anything about having a husband, but suddenly the door opened and there was a big man who said: 'Who the hell are you?' I said: 'I better leave,' and he replied: 'I think it’s probably for the best'."
Beckham was England captain for the duration of Eriksson's reign (Alex Livesey/Getty Images)During his Three Lions tenure, Eriksson was especially close with superstar winger David Beckham. Beckham was captain for the duration of Eriksson's reign, with the former Manchester United frequently defending him from criticism.
"We had a meeting with the manager but that happens all the time - if the manager decides he wants a meeting with players to discuss formations or ways of playing then we'll have a meeting," Beckham said in 2005.
"It has nothing to do with player power, I think a little bit more respect needs to be shown to the manager because he is the one who picks the team.
"If you're asked to play different roles by the manager then that is what you have to do. He discusses things with the players and they appreciate that but the final decision is down to him. There is a strong relationship between the players and manager."
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