He recently said goodbye to fans.
Sven-Goran Eriksson, former coach of Lazio, the England national team and Manchester City, has died aged 77. The Swedish specialist had cancer in the last stage - doctors warned him that recovery was impossible.
The world found out that the Swede was sick with cancer in January 2024. Eriksson decided not to hide from the public and spoke about his condition himself: "At best I have a year left, at worst - a little less . But I promise to fight as long as I can. The doctors don't know how long I've been sick, maybe a month, maybe a year."
In addition, Sven-Goran acted bravely - he did not just talk about his illness, but decided to spend the last months of his life as publicly as possible. And the whole football world helped him in this.
Liverpool got involved first. In an interview, Eriksson regretfully admitted that he had always wanted to work for this club: “I always dreamed of being Liverpool's coach. My dad still shouts for them, I've always supported them too... So yes - I've dreamed of coaching Liverpool but it's never going to happen again. It's sad, but there's nothing to be done.”
After hearing this, Liverpool decided to invite Eriksson to lead the team in the match of legends against Ajax. “Obviously it was very touching news when I heard about it. It was the first time I heard of his admiration or love for Liverpool and that he had been a fan all his life. All I can say is that he will be very welcome here. And if he wants, he can sit in my seat in my office and do my work during the day. This is not a problem," said the then coach of the Reds, Jurgen Klopp
In the end, Eriksson did lead Liverpool for a game, just as he had dreamed. And everything was serious - the match was held at "Anfield", the full stands sang YNWA, and the Swede's team beat Ajax 4:2. Sven cried after the match.
After that, a tour began - Eriksson successively visited almost all the clubs in which he worked. Visited Benfica (with them he dominated Portugal and the continent in the 1980s), went to Gothenburg, with whom he won the UEFA Cup (there he was greeted with "I don't know where it ends, but I know where it all began"), went to Sampdoria , with which he won the Italian Cup.
The last stop, of course, was Lazio - perhaps the main team of Sven-Goran Eriksson's career. With the Romans, the coach won the Scudetto and a number of other trophies - seven in total. The club puts them all on the field, and the Swede admires them right there - under the applause of the stands.
Unfortunately, Erickson looked worse and worse - the disease was taking its toll. After Lazio, Sven almost disappeared from the public space - he only shared that he would support England at the Euros.
A month after the defeat of his favorites, on August 21, Eriksson said goodbye to the world in an autobiographical film: “My life was good. I think we all fear the day we die, but life is also death. You have to learn to accept her for who she is. I hope you'll remember me as a good boy who tries to do the best he can. Don't be sad, but smile. Thanks for everything, coaches, players, spectators, it was great. Take care of yourself and your life. And live it. Goodbye.”
Six days later, Erickson was already gone - according to media reports he died at home surrounded by family and loved ones. In January, doctors gave him a maximum of one year - unfortunately, he only lasted half of it. | BGNES
