Sven-Goran Eriksson: Former England manager reveals cancer diagnosis and has 'a year to live'
Between 2001 and 2006, Eriksson coached the so-called 'golden generation' of footballers in the England team including David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard.
Thursday 11 January 2024 13:45, UK
Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has revealed he has terminal cancer.
Eriksson, 75, told a Swedish radio station he has "at best a year to live".
"Everyone understands that I have an illness that is not good. Everyone guesses it's cancer and it is. But I have to fight as long as I can," he told P1.
When asked about the condition, the Swedish native said he has "maybe at best a year, at worst even less, or in the best case I suppose even longer", adding doctors "can't put a day on it".
Eriksson was running 5km the day before he went to hospital, he said, before he "collapsed and fainted" and it "turned out that I had cancer".
It "just came from nothing", he added, and that "makes you shocked".
"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," he added.
Between 2001 and 2006, Eriksson coached the so-called "golden generation" of footballers in the England team including David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard.
He led England to three consecutive quarter-finals at major tournaments and was manager in one of their most famous results, a 5-1 win over Germany in Munich in September 2001.
Eriksson resigned as sporting director at Swedish club Karistad Football 11 months ago due to health issues.
Of the cancer diagnosis, he told P1 "it's better not to think about it".
"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," he added.
"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."
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The Swede had made a name for himself across the continent before his stint with England, having led Benfica to three Portuguese back-to-back league titles and a runners-up finish in the European Cup.
He guided Rome-based club Lazio to their second Serie A triumph in 1999-2000 - the last time they won the title - at a time when the league was considered by many to be the most challenging in Europe.
His career since leaving the England job has seen him take charge at Manchester City and Leicester, with further international spells at Mexico, Ivory Coast and Philippines national teams.
Rooney, who played under Eriksson, described the former England manger as "a brilliant coach and a special person".
"Sad news this morning," he wrote on X. "Thoughts are with Sven Goran-Eriksson and his family. A brilliant coach and a special person. Loved and respected by everyone. We're all with you Sven, keep fighting."
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