Sven-Goran Eriksson provides poignant goodbye message amid most cancers battle

Terminally ill former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson has shared a poignant goodbye message in a new documentary reflecting on his life. 

Eriksson, 76, revealed in January that he had pancreatic cancer and is approaching the end of his life, with a ‘best case’ scenario seeing him only have a year left to live.

Speaking at the end of a new Amazon Prime documentary about his life, called ‘Sven’, the former Three Lions boss gave a final message to former players, coaches and supporters.

His message was set over the landscape of the Swedish countryside near his home in Sunne, Sweden.

‘I had a good life. I think we are all scared of the day when we die, but life is about death as well,’ Eriksson says.

Sven-Goran Eriksson has given a goodbye message in a documentary looking back on his life

The documentary sees Eriksson reflect on his time as England boss and his cancer diagnosis

‘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 Eriksson in his home, with the former England manager concluding his message with ‘bye.’

The Swede enjoyed a hugely successful managerial career, coaching the likes of Benfica, Lazio, Man City, Leicester City and Roma.

He also led England between 2001 and 2006 and was famously the first ever foreign coach to be in charge of the Three Lions.

Key images from Eriksson’s career were shown during his final message, along with a clip of him managing a Liverpool legends team earlier this year.

Ex-England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson fulfilled an ambition to manager Liverpool in a legends match earlier this year

Eriksson (pictured with partner Yaniseth Alcides) revealed in January he had pancreatic cancer and is approaching the end of his life, with a ‘best case’ scenario seeing him have a year left

Eriksson led England from 2001 to 2006, but failed to take the ‘Golden Generation’ to glory

The match fulfilled Eriksson’s lifelong dream to manage Liverpool at Anfield, while also reflecting his enduring popularity among fans in England.

During the film, Eriksson reflects that his life has been ‘like a ­fairy tale’.

‘It was not a normal life,’ he said. ‘I had a good life, maybe too good, you have to pay for it.’

Speaking on a visit to Fryken lake, near his home in Sunne, Eriksson admitted it could be his final resting place.

‘I always thought it’s a great place to sleep,’ he said. ‘The ashes could be thrown into the water here. It feels like home.’

The 76-year-old is most famous for his time in charge of England, but despite coaching what was dubbed a ‘Golden Generation’, he was unable to lead the Three Lions to glory.

At the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, along with Euro 2004, England were knocked out at the quarter-final stage as Eriksson struggled to cultivate a successful team, amid a myriad of club divides within the squad.

Eriksson suggested his ashes could be scattered at a lake at Fryken in Sweden

The Amazon Prime documentary titled ‘Sven’ will be released on August 23

The Amazon Prime documentary includes key figures from his life including David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, Roberto Mancini and Kasper Schmeichel.

He also talks openly about his affairs in the film, admitting he was ‘stupid’ to have cheated on Nancy Dell’Ollio with Ulrika Jonsson and Faria Alam.

Dell’Ollio and Alam are among those to feature in the film, which focuses on his rise and fall as England manager as well as the reality of Sven’s terminal cancer diagnosis.

Eriksson admits the in the film he appreciates his family more now, which includes partner Yaniseth Alcides, who he has been with for 16 years.

• SVEN is on Prime Video in the UK, Ireland and Nordics on August 23.