Sven-Goran Eriksson funeral – David Beckham hugs Nancy Dell’Olio as stars arrive
Football stars have started to arrive at Sven-Goran Eriksson’s funeral on Friday (13 September).
Eriksson passed away aged 76 last month, after a battle with cancer. The Swede’s funeral will now take place on Friday with his hometown set to come to a standstill as it says goodbye to its most famous son.
David Beckham, who played under Eriksson for England, was snapped hugging the Swede’s ex-partner Nancy Dell’Olio as they both arrived at the Fryksände Church in the tiny Swedish town of Torsby.
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Beckham arrived in Sweden on Thursday evening – and so too did former England boss Roy Hodgson, who touched down alongside FA officials.
However, the majority of the congregation will be the area’s residents – just as Sven wanted. The star’s close pal Bengt Berg, who will give a eulogy in Sven’s honour, told the Mirror: “The funeral will be as he wished.
(Image: PA)
“Sven was a big star in football, but he wasn’t a big star when he came back here. He was very ordinary and human.”
Bengt, 78, who first became friends with Sven when they were both aged just 12, added: “He was humble and never forgot his roots. They were very important to him and I think they helped him in his career.”
Local police estimate between 500 and a few thousand locals could attend the church service, which starts at 10am, including many who will watch on a giant screen outside the 600-capacity church.
(Image: Sven/Prime Video)
He will be laid to rest at a picturesque lakeside near Lake Fryken, not far from his birthplace and his Torsby boyhood stomping grounds in western Sweden.
“A beautiful place, [it] makes you calm, makes me calm,” he said reflectively in his Amazon Prime documentary. Scanning across the lake, he said with feeling: “Below the mountain [is] where my father grew up.
“If you look straight on, that’s Torsby, where I grew up. I always thought great place, to sleep. The ashes could be thrown into the water here. It feels like home.”
