‘Don’t be sorry, smile’
Sven-Göran Eriksson has died aged 76 after a battle with terminal cancer. The former England manager was diagnosed with the illness in January.
On Monday afternoon, Eriksson’s family released a statement confirming the 76-year-old had passed away.
The statement read that the former England manager died at home surrounded by his family this morning.
The Swede managed England from 2001 until 2006 and was a hugely popular figure.
Just a few weeks ago, Eriksson delivered a poignant final goodbye and revealed how he would like people to remember him as part of a new documentary looking back on his life.
As part of the documentary, Sven delivered a poignant message next to a lake in Sunne, his Swedish home.
He told viewers:
“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.
“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.”
Eriksson became the first foreign England manager when he was appointed in 2001 and subsequently led the team to the quarter-finals of two World Cups and one European Championship.
During this time, he managed what was dubbed a ‘golden generation’ of England players, which included the likes of Wayne Rooney, David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, John Terry, and Ashley Cole.
Beckham and Rooney both feature in the Prime documentary.
Following his terminal cancer diagnosis, Eriksson spent his time at his Swedish home in Sunne with his family. The documentary shows him enjoying meals and playing cards with his son Johan, daughter Lina and his partner of 15 years Yaniseth Bravo.
Talking about his treatment over the last few months, the 76-year-old said: “Life is not 100 per cent. I’ve had injections for many months, now they [doctors] change to taking pills.
“It has a lot of big effects on the throat and the nose, but that is part of it and I can live with that.
“I know life will not last forever. But I am OK.”
The Mirror reported that the former manager was not well enough to travel to London to promote the doc, and was represented by his children at the launch.
Following his diagnosis, Eriksson managed to fulfil a lifelong dream of managing Liverpool and has also been given some emotional farewells by his former clubs.
