Sven-Goran Eriksson’s doctors were left in tears when the severity of his terminal illness was revealed, the former England manager’s children have said.
Eriksson, 76, revealed in January that he had pancreatic cancer and was nearing the end of his life, with a “best case scenario” of having just one year left to live.
The former Three Lions coach, who was in charge of the national team between 2001 and 2006, has now shared a moving farewell message in a new documentary that reflects on his life.
And his two sons have also been speaking out in the Amazon Prime documentary ‘Sven’ about receiving the ‘worst possible news’ about his serious condition.
They recall that doctors alerted them after Eriksson collapsed during a 5km race.
Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, 76, revealed in January that he had pancreatic cancer and was nearing the end of his life.
Sven-Goran Eriksson is pictured with his son Johan, who caddied for Swedish golfer Johan Edfors at a tournament in the Forest of Arden, Warwickshire, in May 2004.
Sven-Goran Eriksson is pictured with his daughter Lina (left) and partner Yaniseth Alcides (centre) at the annual Swedish Sports Gala in Stockholm in January this year.
Johan Eriksson told the documentary makers: “I had 10 missed calls from my sister: ‘Dad is in the emergency room. He’s not feeling well.'”
“When the doctor is crying, you can say that it is not good news, that it is the worst news possible.”
Johan’s sister Lina Eriksson added: “We heard that he had suffered five strokes and then you go into a state of fear, of panic.”
Sven himself speaks openly and at length in the new documentary, as do former colleagues and ex-partners, including Nancy Dell’Olio.
Speaking about his condition at the start of the show, Eriksson said: “One day I woke up and felt dizzy. Yes, I have cancer and that’s it.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen with the medicine. I’m a little scared. It takes time, a little time, before you can accept it. I’m still here.”
And the programme closes with a message delivered while looking out over the Swedish countryside near his home in Sunne, in which Eriksson says: “I had a good life.
‘I think we’re all afraid of the day we die, but life is also about death.
“You have to learn to accept him as he is. Hopefully, in the end people will say yes, he was a good man, but not everyone will say that.”
Sven-Goran Eriksson has given a farewell message in a documentary that reviews his life
Eriksson managed England from 2001 to 2006, with David Beckham (pictured with Eriksson above) as his captain, including in this 2006 World Cup quarter-final defeat to Portugal.
Eriksson (pictured with partner Yaniseth Alcides) revealed in January that he had pancreatic cancer and was nearing the end of his life, with a “best case scenario” of one year remaining.
He is shown telling viewers: “I hope you remember me as a positive guy who tried to do everything he could. Don’t be sorry, smile.
“Thank you for everything, coaches, players, fans. It’s been fantastic. Take care of yourselves and take care of your life. And live it.”
Elsewhere in the programme, Eriksson admitted he was “stupid” to have cheated on former teammate Dell’Olio with TV presenter Jonsson and former FA secretary Faria Alam.
But the former England manager insists sex should be celebrated, adding: “I didn’t do anything criminal.”
The Swede made headlines around the world with his love affairs in the 2000s.
But in the Amazon Prime documentary he claims that “sex is one of the good things in life for all of us,” although he admitted His reputation was damaged by his adventures.
She was in a relationship with Italian lawyer Dell’Olio for almost a decade, starting in 1998.
But she had affairs with TV presenter Jonsson, now 56, from 2002 and former Football Association secretary Alam, now 58, in 2004.
Speaking about her romance with Jonsson, she said: “Sex is one of the good things in life for all of us. She wasn’t married. I wasn’t married.
The documentary shows Eriksson reflecting on his time as England manager and his cancer diagnosis.
Sven-Goran Eriksson led the Three Lions to the quarter-finals of three consecutive tournaments: the 2002 and 2006 World Cups and Euro 2004 in between.
Eriksson, pictured with his former England player Steven Gerrard, fulfilled a lifelong ambition in March this year by coaching a Liverpool team at Anfield in a charity legends match.
Eriksson talks about his adventures in the new film, admitting he was “stupid” to have cheated on Nancy Dell’Ollio (pictured with Eriksson in 2002) with Ulrika Jonsson and Faria Alam.
Sven-Goran Eriksson is pictured here with his partner Yaniseth Alcides and members of his family.
“I was probably stupid, but I don’t think I did anything criminal. I didn’t really bother anyone.”
Dell’Olio, 62, told the documentary how she almost left Eriksson over his affair with Jonsson, but was advised against it by her lawyer.
Eriksson said: “She loved tension. She was an upper-class lady from Rome. She liked hanging out with important people.”
Nancy admitted that she adored Eriksson, saying: “The first impression I had of Sven was that people in power always have an extra, extra sex appeal. I fell in love.”
“It wasn’t something I was looking for. I was married and I left my husband to go my own way with Sven. We were Sven and Nancy from the first date. I was the first lady of English football.”
Eriksson also revealed that at the height of his role as Three Lions manager he met Tony Blair in Downing Street and the Labour prime minister joked: “Shall we make a bet? Who will keep the job longer, you or me? We have two impossible jobs.”
Eriksson now lives in Sweden with former dancer Yaniseth Alcides, whom he met in Mexico during his time as that country’s national coach.
She said: “I have hope that we will be together for many more years. I will not give up that hope.”
Eriksson says of his house near Sunne in Varmland County: “It’s beautiful. It’s reassuring to be under the mountain where my father grew up. The ashes can be thrown into the water.”
Amazon Prime documentary ‘Sven’ to premiere on August 23
England striker Wayne Rooney, right, with his then manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, left, during an England training session in Baden-Baden during the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
Ulrika Jonsson, who left in 1997 and left this year, has spoken out after Sven Goran Eriksson spoke about their four-month romance in a new documentary
Faria Alam, who was Sven’s secretary when they had an affair, says she was in love with him.
Sven-Goran Eriksson remains with his girlfriend Yaniseth Bravo in Sweden: she has said she will not give up hope that he will overcome his pancreatic cancer
Eriksson led England to the quarter-finals in three consecutive tournaments: the 2002 and 2006 World Cups and Euro 2004 in between.
His other coaching duties include winning the UEFA Cup in 1982 with Sweden’s IFK Göteborg, three Portuguese league titles with Benfica and the UEFA Champions League in 1999 and the Italian Serie A championship the following year with Lazio.
He has also been in charge of English club football at Manchester City and Leicester City, and in March this year fulfilled his ambition of managing Liverpool at Anfield, in a charity “legends” match against Ajax featuring former players such as Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard.
Eriksson, who received a standing ovation from the crowd as he emerged from the tunnel ahead of the teams, said afterwards: “That will be a great memory in life, aAbsolutely beautiful.’
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