Sad news came today, August 26th. Former England, Manchester City, Lazio, Roma and Benfica manager Sven-Göran Eriksson has passed away at the age of 76.
“After a long illness, Sven-Göran passed away this morning at home surrounded by his family,” read a statement on the coach’s official website. “The closest mourners are his daughter Lina, his son Johan with his wife Amana and granddaughter Skye, his father Sven, Eriksson’s girlfriend Janisetta with her son Alcides, his brother Lars-Erik with his wife Yumnong. The family requests that their wishes to grieve in private be respected and not disturbed.”
Sven-Göran Eriksson
Photo: Marco Rosi/Getty Images
A Swedish specialist announced in January 2024 that he had been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. Ericsson’s words have frequently appeared in the media over the past eight months. Fans around the world were concerned about the Swede’s fate. Here you will find important quotes from Eriksson over the past year and his farewell letter, which appeared in the media a few days before the coach’s death.
In January 2024, we learned about Ericsson’s illness. He spoke about it himself. Sven-Göran said that, at best, he had one year left to live.
Sven-Göran Eriksson
football coach
“Everyone understands that I have a serious illness. Everyone assumed it was cancer. Yes, that’s true. But I have to fight as much as I can. At best I have a year, at worst less. I don’t feel any serious pain. However, I was diagnosed with a disease that can be stopped, but cannot be cured. It’s better not to think about it, because you’ll have to trick your brain. I could think about it all the time, stay at home, feel miserable and consider myself unlucky. The easiest way is to do it this way. But it’s much smarter to try to find the positive and not get caught up in this failure.”
The Swede later said that he is not going to feel sorry for himself, but instead wants to enjoy life: “My goal for the rest of my life is to wake up in the morning and feel good. I usually feel pretty good. Not as good as I would like, but as good as it can be. I don’t complain, but I refuse to sit there and cry. It’s just something you have to deal with. There’s no point in thinking about what happened 24 hours a day, you have to live life as normal while you can.”
In March 2024, Eriksson’s dream came true: he became Liverpool’s manager for the legends match against Ajax. The Swede spoke of his love for the team: “I’ve always been a Liverpool fan, ever since I was little. And my father was also a Liverpool fan when he was much younger, so it’s a dynasty. My brother is a Liverpool fan, my son is a Liverpool fan. Sometimes you get angry when the team doesn’t do well. There were years when significant events didn’t happen for us, but now they are happening again at the highest level. It’s great to be a Liverpool fan today!”
Sven-Göran Eriksson
Photo: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
In the match of legends, Liverpool defeated Ajax (4-2) and Eriksson was delighted. “In my opinion, the main heroes of the match are the people in the stands! The former players who played are not 20 years old anymore, but they still showed their best side. It was a beautiful match. It is fantastic that the lads came here from all over Europe and Gerrard is from another part of the world. I will remember this day for the rest of my life,” said Sven-Goran.
Sven-Göran Eriksson
football coach
“For now, I am a healthy patient. Am I afraid of death? Well, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t. Sometimes those thoughts come to my mind, but I try not to think about it.”
In August, Amazon Prime released Sven, a documentary about Eriksson’s life. Here are some key quotes from the Swede: “I had injections for many months, but now the doctors have switched me to pills. It really affects my throat and nose, but I can live with it. I know life won’t last forever. But I’m fine.”
Asked about life, Ericsson did not complain: “It was like a fairy tale. It was not a normal life. I had a good life. Maybe too good. You have to pay for it.”
And at the end of the film, Eriksson left one last touching message.
Sven-Göran Eriksson
football coach
“I had a good life. I think we all fear the day we die, but life is death too. You need to learn to accept it as it is. I hope that in the end people will say, ‘Yeah, he was a good man.’ But maybe not everyone will. I hope I’m remembered as a positive guy who tried to do the best he could. Don’t apologize, smile. Thanks for everything, coaches, players, spectators, it was great. Take care of yourself and your life. And live it. Goodbye.”
Five days later, Ericsson died.
A nice move by Lazio in honour of one of the best coaches in the history of the club:
Stories
Lazio paid tribute to the terminally ill Sven-Göran Eriksson. Photo
