Swedish football manager and former player Sven-Göran Eriksson announced on 11 January 2024 that he has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and, in the best-case scenario, only has approximately a year to live.
Eriksson managed the England national team for five years before departing following the 2006 World Cup, and due to health concerns, he resigned from his most recent position as sporting director at the Swedish club Karlstad 11 months ago.
He expressed in an interview with Swedish Radio P1 how everyone can see that he has a disease that is not good, and everyone supposes that it’s cancer. The 75-year-old took a moment to confirm that it was cancer, and he wants to resist it for as long as he can.
He is aware that it could take up to a year in the best scenario and even less in the worst. or, in the optimum situation, perhaps even longer. The doctors told him that they can’t seem to put a day on it therefore, he thinks they can say anything for sure.
After he unexpectedly fainted while running five kilometers the day before, the cancer was discovered as the doctors also informed Eriksson that he had a stroke. He explained in the interview that it is best to avoid thinking about it. He explained that he must deceive his mind, as otherwise he could sit at home and be depressed and believe he is unlucky and so on, thinking about that all the time.
Sending our love, Sven ❤️ pic.twitter.com/s6ga1APO0c
— England (@England) January 11, 2024
Support From Around the World
Following his diagnosis, one of his former England players, Wayne Rooney, expressed overwhelming support for the former England manager, calling him “a special person.”
Eriksson had given Rooney his debut for his country the year before, and he made his breakthrough during the 2004 European Championship. “Sad news this morning,” the former England striker said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Rooney added that Sven-Göran Eriksson and his family are in their thoughts and prayers, and he reminisced on Eriksson as a wonderful coach and a player. Eriksson is admired and cherished by all. Rooney states that they all are ready to support him, so he should not give up.
After an average playing career, the Swede became well-known when he and IFK Gothenburg won the Uefa Cup in the early 1980s. After having successful stints with Roma, Fiorentina, Benfica, and Sampdoria, they took the football club SS Lazio to win their second Serie A championship in 2000.
He was appointed England’s first non-British manager in 2001, and the following year, he led his team to a 5-1 victory over Germany in Munich, qualifying them for the World Cup. Even though he was in charge of an amazing group of players who went on to become known as the “Golden Generation,” England never advanced past the quarterfinals of a major tournament.
They came close, though, losing to eventual winners Brazil by a short margin in 2002 and then falling again on penalties to Portugal in the World Cup and Euro 2004.
Everyone at Manchester City is thinking of Sven-Göran Eriksson, and we wish to express our collective support to our former Manager, and his family and friends, during this time 🩵 pic.twitter.com/MUGJOkIdt5
— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 11, 2024
Eriksson in the Football World
Eriksson questioned whether leaving Lazio for England had been the right choice during the interview with Swedish radio. “Life in Italy was fantastic.” He said, adding that he really enjoyed his time there.
However, he made the choice after receiving a call from England one day, wondering if that was the proper decision to make because he believed that if he had stayed in Lazio, he would have been greeted like a king.
Former clubs also wished the Swede well, including the England national team’s X account in wishing him love and support. Eriksson is also on everyone’s mind at Manchester City, as the team has extended its “collective support to our former manager, and his family and friends, during this time,” stated the statement.
Notts County wrote on social media that they are also sending love and strength to their former director of football, while Leicester stated that they are all with him during his tough time.
Following his tenure with England, Eriksson managed Manchester City for one season in 2007–08 under Thaksin Shinawatra’s ownership. He then had stints as manager of Mexico, Ivory Coast, and Leicester, and then he was employed in China from 2013 until 2017.
