Sven-Goran Eriksson said he had ‘best case a year’ to live in January (Picture: Amazon)
Former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson has sent a heartbreaking message as he reaches the end of his life and tells fans: ‘I hope you’ll remember me.’
The Swedish ex-Three Lions manager, who has terminal pancreatic cancer, was in charge of England’s ‘Golden Generation’ men’s football team from 2001 to 2006.
The 76-year-old revealed in January that he had ‘best case a year’ to live and a new documentary about his life is being released on Amazon Prime on Friday.
‘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.’
Speaking candidly as he approaches the end, Eriksson added: ‘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 at the end people will say, ‘yeah, he was a good man’. But everyone will not say that.’
Sven-Goran Eriksson says we must all ‘accept’ death is inevitable (Picture: Amazon)
Eriksson made history in 2001 when he became the first foreign England manager ever and he guided the Three Lions to World Cup quarter-finals in 2002 and 2006.
He also made headlines for his life away from football, such as his affairs with Ulrika Jonsson and Faria Alam, and being involved in a ‘Fake Sheikh’ tabloid sting.
‘I didn’t do anything criminal,’ Eriksson said when reflecting on his affair with Jonsson. ‘Sex is one of many good things in life for all of us.’
Eriksson managed a number of other teams too – including Manchester City, Leicester City, Benfica, Roma, Lazio, Fiorentina, Sampdoria and Mexico.
He was crowned Serie A Coach of the Year in 2000 and the following year he scooped the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Coach Award.
Eriksson clinched the Swedish, Portuguese and Italian league titles with Gothenburg, Benfica and Lazio respectively.