Sven-Goran Eriksson, the former England manager who led the so-called “golden generation” of footballers to three consecutive quarter-finals at major tournaments, has revealed he has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
The 75-year-old Swede, who also won titles with Benfica, Lazio and Manchester City, told a Swedish radio station that he has “at best a year left to live”.
He said he collapsed and fainted while on a 5km run last year, which prompted doctors to investigate. They found out that he had cancer that “can be slowed down but not operated”.
Eriksson said he was shocked by the news, as he felt healthy and fit before the incident. He said he is not in any major pain, but he has to fight as long as he can.
He added that he tries to see the positive sides of things and not bury himself in setbacks, as this is the biggest setback of them all.
Eriksson is widely regarded as one of the most successful and influential coaches in the history of football. He made a name for himself across the continent, winning three Portuguese top-flight titles and a runners-up finish in the European Cup with Benfica, and guiding Lazio to their second Serie A triumph in 1999-2000, at a time the league was considered by many to be the most challenging in Europe.
He also coached Roma, Sampdoria, Fiorentina, Leicester City, Ivory Coast, Mexico, Philippines and several clubs in China.
But he is perhaps best known for his stint with England, where he became the first foreign manager of the national team in 2001. He led England to the quarter-finals of the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, and the 2004 European Championship, where they lost to eventual winners Brazil, Portugal and Portugal respectively.
He also oversaw one of England’s most famous results, a 5-1 win over Germany in Munich in September 2001, which secured their qualification for the 2002 World Cup.
Eriksson coached some of the finest players of their generation, such as David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard. He was known for his calm and composed demeanour, his tactical acumen and his ability to handle the pressure and scrutiny of the English media.
Eriksson left England in 2006, after the World Cup in Germany, where they were eliminated by Portugal on penalties and he had no regrets about his time with England and that he was proud of what he achieved.
He said he has a bucket list of things he wants to do before he dies, such as travelling to places he has never been, meeting old friends and watching his favourite teams play.
He said he is not bitter or angry about his fate, but he is sad that he will not be able to see his grandchildren grow up and hopes his legacy will be remembered as a coach who gave his best for every team he managed, and who brought joy and success to millions of fans around the world.
