Sven-Goran Eriksson filmed his heartbreaking final goodbye alone – and his emotional message left film crew in tears
SVEN-GORAN ERIKSSON left film crews in tears after he filmed his heartbreaking final goodbye alone in an emotional documentary airing today.
The terminally-ill former England and Manchester City manager revealed in January that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
The 76-year-old has seen his life chronicled in a documentary for Amazon Prime Video which will be released today.
The director of Sven’s documentary revealed that the former footballer left those working on the project in tears as he recorded his final goodbye in a room alone without a cameraman.
Claudia Corbisiero, director, said; “He was always open, but I think it just took time to get him to be really open about his illness and the way he felt about it.
“Sven also really wanted to make sure that this wasn’t only a sad story.
“And that was something that he was really keen on, is ‘I don’t want this to be a boo hoo. I’m dying’ thing.'”
Sven was too ill to fly to London earlier this week to promote the documentary. His daughter Lina said on stage in London he is now “deteriorating quite quickly”.
The ex-England manager gave a final message to former players, coaches and supporters after speaking openly about his affairs and life in the film.
In a touching clip at the end of the documentary, Sven told viewers: “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.
“I hope you will remember me as a positive guy trying to do everything he could do. 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.”
The film then pans back to Sven in his home, with the former England manager concluding his message with “bye”.
In another moving scene, son Johan and daughter Lina shared the moment they were told about Eriksson’s health condition.
Johan said: “I had 10 missed calls from my sister, ‘Dad’s in the emergency room’.
“He’s not in a good way. You can kind of tell when the doctor’s in tears that… not good. Worst possible news.”
Lina continued: “We found out that he had had five strokes and then you go into a state of fear. A panic mode.”
Eriksson noted: “One day, I woke up and I felt dizzy. Yeah, it’s cancer I have and that’s it. The medicine, we don’t know what’s going to happen.
“I’m sort of scared. It takes time, a little bit of time before you can accept it. I’m still here.”
In the documentary, streaming today, David Beckham and Wayne Rooney also pay tribute to their former boss.
Becks says: “I loved him from day one. He made me captain. The confidence he had in me was so important.
“The way he protected the players, the way he treated the players, it was a breath of fresh air.”
Since falling ill, Sven has spent almost all his time at his Swedish home in Sunne, and has reconnected with his family.
Speaking on a visit to Fryken lake, near Sunne, Sven admitted it could be his final resting place.
Pointing at the lake, he said: “I always thought it’s a great place to sleep.
“The ashes could be thrown into the water here. It feels like home.”
Eriksson took charge of 67 England matches between January 2001 and July 2006, winning 40 games.
He also had successful club spells with Benfica, Roma and Lazio.
And he managed twice in England with Man City and Leicester.
Sven-Goran Eriksson's managerial career
AS Sven-Goran Eriksson bravely continues to battle cancer, SunSport takes a look at his remarkable managerial career...
PROMISING START
It began in Sweden in 1977 where he won the third division with Degerfors, before he joined Gothenburg and won two Swedish Cups and the Uefa Cup.
He then took over at Benfica in 1982 and spent two seasons with the Portuguese giants where he won back-to-back league titles.
INCREDIBLE ITALIAN SUCCESS
Stints followed in Italy with Roma and Fiorentina, but he returned to Benfica in 1989 and reached the European Cup final before losing to AC Milan.
Eriksson claimed a third league title with Benfica the following year, leaving in 1992 for Sampdoria.
He spent five seasons with the Serie A side, winning the Copa Italia in 1994.
Eriksson then added another two Coppa Italias to his trophy cabinet with Lazio across a four-year spell.
ENGLAND APPOINTMENT
Then came the England job in 2001 where he spent five years at the helm of the national side.
He reached the quarter-finals of World Cup 2002, losing 2-1 to eventual winners Brazil.
England then suffered back-to-back eliminations at the hands of Portugal at Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006.
PREMIER LEAGUE SPELLS
After leaving the Three Lions following his third major tournament, he spent one season at Manchester City.
Spells followed at Mexico, Ivory Coast and Leicester, before he moved to China where he coached three clubs across a four-year period.
His last managerial stint came for the Philippines national team, a position he held from October 2018 to January 2019.
MAJOR HONOURS
Portugal League title x 3 (Benfica 82/83, 83/84, 90/91)
Copa Italia x 4 (Roma 85/86, Sampdoria 93/94, Lazio 97/98, 99/00)
Serie A title (Lazio 99/00)
Uefa Cup Winners’ Cup (Lazio 98/99)
Uefa Super Cup (Lazio 99)
BBC Sports Personality Coach of the Year (England 2001