Nancy Dell’Olio calls ex Sven-Goran Erikkson her ‘husband’ in tribute

Sven Goran Eriksson’s former lover Nancy Dell Olio has paid tribute to the ex England boss. after he passed away on Monday morning aged 76 following his battle against pancreatic cancer.

The lawyer, 63, and the Swede previously had a ten year relationship and were thought to have never married, but Nancy referred to him as her husband as she reflected on their years together in the heartfelt post.

The glamorous Italian – who left her husband Giancarlo Massa for the coach – was a constant by his side and pictured with him at several tournaments.

Nancy took to her Instagram to share a slew of previously unseen photos of the pair of them together.

One loved-up snap saw her sitting in Sven’s lap laughing, as he wrapped his arms around her waist, while another saw the pair gazing adoringly into each other’s eyes.

In the caption she called Sven her ‘ex-husband’ and reflected on the ups and downs of the relationship, but insisted that ‘love never truly fades’.

Nancy wrote: ‘It is with a heavy heart that I share the passing of my ex-husband, Sven. Though our relationship had its ups and downs, I choose to remember the good times we shared and the moments that brought joy to our lives.

‘I will always hold onto those cherished memories and extend my deepest condolences to his family, as well as his beloved children, Lina and Johan.

‘When you love someone, that love never truly fades. Rest in peace, Sven. You will be missed.’

Sven and Nancy met in 1998 when he was manager at Rome club Lazio and began their romance, three years before he got the job as England manager.

She moved with Sven to London after he got the top job, but it wasn’t long before he embarked on an affair with Swedish television presenter Ulrika Jonsson at the start of 2002. 

Nancy stuck by Sven, but he then had another affair in 2004 with the then Football Association secretary Faria Alam. 

The story of the second affair was major news because Faria had also had an affair with the then FA CEO, Mark Palios.

Despite the media storm, Nancy chose to stay with Sven and when he led England to the World Cup in Germany in 2006, flamboyant Nancy, dressed in designer outfits, organised parties for the WAGS in their base at Baden Baden. 

However, the couple eventually went their separate ways in August 2007 after a decade together.

Writing about their relationship in her book My Beautiful Game, Nancy gushed: ‘I’m proud to have talked about the beautiful love story that linked me to Sven, it’s one of the two great love stories of my life.’

Speaking on a Amazon Prime documentary about his life, Sven spoke candidly about his affairs, but insisted that ‘sex is one of the good things in life for all of us’, he wasn’t married and didn’t break any hearts.

Talking about when his fling with Ulrika emerged, he said: ‘Sex is one of the good things in life for all of us. She was not married. I was not married.

‘Probably I was stupid but I think I didn’t do anything criminal. I didn’t really disturb anyone.’

He explained how Nancy had wanted to leave him, but changed her mind, saying: ‘She loved it. The tension. She was a lady from the upper classes in Rome. She liked to go out with important people.

‘In the beginning I didn’t react very much. But you don’t change people at a certain age. It was not peace in my house always.’

Nancy also appeared on the documentary, and admitted she loved Sven, saying: ‘The first impression that I had about Sven, people in power always have extra, extra sex appeal. I felt in love.

‘It wasn’t something that I was looking for. I was married and I left my husband to start my journey with Sven.

‘We were Sven and Nancy since the first date. I was the first lady of English football and there was never going to be another one after me.’ 

Sven revealed in January that he had ‘best case a year’ to live following his pancreatic cancer diagnosis.

After his announcement, Nancy called the news ‘devastating’, saying she ‘knew he was ill’ but had no idea of the extent of his condition.

At the time she told MailOnline: ‘I didn’t think 2024 would open with more bad news. I knew that Sven was ill, but it hurts so much to hear this.

‘It’s a really negative moment. In September my mother died and I can’t get over this loss. It’s like having an open wound that instead of healing keeps getting worse. 

‘Sven’s announcement was devastating. I knew he wasn’t well, but hearing his words really. Life can be cruel.’

Nancy also revealed that she and Sven were due to get married, but said that life had got in the way.

When asked about reports they had been due to tie the knot she said: ‘Yes but it never happened.

‘Life never knows what awaits you, changes have occurred, difficult days have arrived and many trials to face.’

Sven became the first foreign manager of the England national team in 2001, taking charge of 67 matches until 2006. He led the talented squad to quarter-finals of the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, and at the 2004 European Championships.

He also managed Swedish, Portuguese and Italian clubs, winning major trophies in the 1980s and 1990s before taking on the England job.

Leading the tributes after his death was the Prince of Wales, who tweeted: ‘Sad to hear about the passing of Sven-Göran Eriksson. I met him several times as England manager and was always struck by his charisma and passion for the game.

‘My thoughts are with his family and friends. A true gentleman of the game. W.’