Sven-Goran Eriksson, the ex-England manager, bravely opens up about his health, disclosing a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and a one-year life expectancy in a “best-case scenario.”
Widely recognized for his tenure as the leader of the Three Lions during the 2002 and 2006 World Cup finals, the 75-year-old’s legacy includes facing quarter-final defeats on both occasions.
Due to “health issues,” Eriksson made the decision to resign from his role at the Swedish club Karlstad in February 2023.
‘Everyone can see that I have a disease that’s not good, and everyone supposes that it’s cancer, and it is. But I have to fight it as long as possible,’ Eriksson said in an appearance on Swedish Radio P1.
Eriksson said he was trying not to think about his illness, adding: ‘You have to trick your brain. I could go around thinking about that all the time and sit at home and be miserable and think I’m unlucky and so on.’
‘It’s easy to end up in that position. But no, see the positive sides of things and don’t bury yourself in setbacks, because this is the biggest setback of them all of course. It just came from nothing. And that makes you shocked,’ Eriksson added.
‘I’m not in any major pain. But I’ve been diagnosed with a disease that you can slow down but you cannot operate. So it is what it is.’
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Eriksson began his career at Sweden’s Degerfors IF, before taking charge of Benfica for an immensely successful spell between 1982-84.
He also won titles at AS Roma, Sampdoria and Lazio before becoming England’s first foreign coach in 2001.
Despite only losing five competitive games, Eriksson’s time at England was a rollercoaster ride, with some superb performances on the field accompanied by scandals off the pitch.
Renowned for assembling a golden generation, his England squad showcased illustrious talents such as David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, and Wayne Rooney, yet failed to secure major silverware.
Beyond their two World Cup quarter-finals, England advanced to the Euro 2004 quarter-finals, experiencing a heart-wrenching defeat to Portugal in a penalty shootout.
Making headlines, the Swede was embroiled in controversy for his affair with former FA secretary Faria Alam and his involvement in the well-known “Fake Sheikh” sting, where a tabloid paper orchestrated a meeting with a reporter masquerading as a wealthy Arab investor.
Post his departure from England in 2006, Eriksson’s coaching path unfolded with roles at several teams, including Manchester City, Mexico’s national team, and Leicester City.
The final chapter of his illustrious four-decade managerial career unfolded with the Philippines in 2019, marking the conclusion of a glittering coaching journey.