Share
25th August 2024
01:36pm BST
One of Sven-Goran Eriksson's closest friends has opened up about the reality of the former England manager's deteriorating health.
In January this year, the much-loved Swede revealed he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had been told he had just a year to live.
On Friday, Prime Video released a new documentary, titled Sven, which looks back on his managerial career and charts his final months.
As part of the documentary, Sven delivered a poignant message next to a lake in Sunne, his Swedish home.
He tells 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.”
Now, his close friend and lawyer Anders Runebjer has opened up about his friend's condition and current state in an interview with 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," he said.
"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."
Runebjer continued: "Now and then I go but I’m not pestering him by going there every day.
"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."
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.
Both Beckham and Rooney feature in the Prime documentary.
Explore more on these topics:
