One of Sven-Goran Eriksson ’s close friends says the former England head coach is now too ill to walk to his favourite lake back home in Sweden . Eriksson announced in January that he had been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer and had ‘at best a year to live’, with tributes and messages of support pouring in for the 76-year-old. The Swede is fondly remembered on these shores for his time in charge of the Three Lions’ so-called ‘Golden Generation’ from 2001 to 2006.
He became the first foreigner to take charge of England at the time and guided the likes of Frank Lampard , Steven Gerrard, Rio Ferdinand and John Terry to successive World Cup quarter-finals. Across a long and distinguished career at the top spanning over four decades, Eriksson also managed the likes of Roma, Lazio, Benfica, Manchester City and Leicester. On Friday, a new documentary on Eriksson’s life was released on Amazon Prime, in which the much-loved ex-manager took the opportunity to deliver a tear-jerking goodbye message to his fans across the globe .
‘I hope you will remember me as a positive guy trying to do everything he could do,’ Eriksson said. ‘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.’ ‘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 .