Friend shares update on Sven-Goran Eriksson’s terminal illness
One of Sven-Goran Eriksson’s close friends says the former England head coach is now too ill to walk to his favourite lake back home in Sweden.
Eriksson announced in January that he had been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer and had ‘at best a year to live’, with tributes and messages of support pouring in for the 76-year-old.
The Swede is fondly remembered on these shores for his time in charge of the Three Lions’ so-called ‘Golden Generation’ from 2001 to 2006.
He became the first foreigner to take charge of England at the time and guided the likes of Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Rio Ferdinand and John Terry to successive World Cup quarter-finals.
Across a long and distinguished career at the top spanning over four decades, Eriksson also managed the likes of Roma, Lazio, Benfica, Manchester City and Leicester.
On Friday, a new documentary on Eriksson’s life was released on Amazon Prime, in which the much-loved ex-manager took the opportunity to deliver a tear-jerking goodbye message to his fans across the globe.
‘I hope you will remember me as a positive guy trying to do everything he could do,’ Eriksson said.
A documentary on Eriksson’s life and career was released on Amazon Prime last week (Picture: Getty)
‘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.’
‘I had a good life. 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.’
Eriksson no longer has the strength to visit his favourite place (Picture: Getty)
One particularly moving scene in the documentary joins Eriksson beside the stunning Lake Fryken near his home in Varmland, Sweden.
‘I always thought it’s a great place to sleep,’ Eriksson said while looking out over the water.
‘The ashes could be thrown into the water here.’
The Swede managed England from 2001 to 2006 (Picture: Getty)
But tragically, Eriksson’s deterioration means he no longer has the strength to be able to visit Lake Fryken.
His close friend and lawyer Anders Runebjer told The Mirror: ‘I’ve seen Sven and how do I feel? I feel sad but I am happy to have known Sven and know that I can still see him. This is my reaction. He is such a tremendous person.
‘Lake Fryken is beautiful. It is 90 kilometres long from south to north and it is a beautiful landscape. You can see that in the pictures. You can definitely fish in that lake too.
‘But sadly his condition does not allow Sven to do that any more. It is a hard time for him.’
Eriksson’s daughter, Lina, revealed that Eriksson’s rapidly worsening condition meant he was unable to fly to London last week.
Runebjer said Eriksson would be spending his final days with his family, watching football, reading history books and listening to music.
‘Now and then I go but I’m not pestering him by going there every day,’ Runebjer added.
‘He needs to have his time with his family but I am in touch with the family as well.
‘His special interest now is history books. And he watches football of course. He watched the Euros and the Olympic Games.
‘I know one day he watched five matches in the Euros. Five in one day! He likes music too. He likes all kinds, especially classical. And yes, of course he likes ABBA. Everybody here does.’
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