David Beckham‘s relationship with Sven-Goran Eriksson was one of the most pivotal and enduring partnerships in English football during the early 2000s.
Marked by mutual respect, loyalty, and defining moments on the pitch, their bond helped shape the England national team during a period of great expectations and near-misses in major tournaments.
Their relationship continued to flourish off the pitch, with the pair remaining close friends up until Eriksson’s passing aged 76 after becoming terminally ill with pancreatic cancer.
Eriksson’s family were around the Swedish icon’s bed when he passed away earlier this morning – and the news triggered a flood of tributes from across the footballing world and beyond.
One of those tributes came from Beckham, who wrote: ‘We laughed, we cried & we knew we were saying goodbye. Sven thank you for always being the person you have always been: passionate, caring, calm & a true gentleman.
David Beckham ‘s relationship with Sven-Goran Eriksson was one of the most pivotal and enduring partnerships in English football during the early 2000s
Beckham, 49, pictured at Eriksson’s funeral in Sweden on Friday morning
Backham shared the following tribute on social media after Eriksson passed away
‘I will be forever grateful for you making me your captain but I will forever hold these last memories of this day with you and your family. Thank you Sven and in your last words to me: ‘It will be ok’.’
It is not known when the video was filmed – but Eriksson revealed in June that Beckham had visited him after he announced in January that he had been given ‘at best’ a year to live.
During an interview with Radio Sweden’s P4 Varmland channel two months ago, the 76-year-old said Becks had visited him on his farm outside Sunne.
‘He came with six litres of wine from dates that were important to me,’ Eriksson had revealed. ‘He had wine from 1948 – the year I was born, very nice of him. He is genuine, he could have been a big diva, but he is quite the opposite.’
Beckham also brought wine from 1982, when Eriksson won the UEFA Cup with IFK Goteborg, and 2000, the year he won the Serie A title with Lazio.
Eriksson added: ‘The previous day he had sent a chef who fixed the food, and then he came and was here for a day, we sat chatting, a lot about football. It confirms, in a way, how great he is. He didn’t have to come here. I felt proud that he came.’
Beckham and Eriksson’s relationship may have stated on the pitch but it blossomed into much more than that.
Eriksson took over as England’s first foreign manager in 2001, inheriting a squad full of talent but also a nation desperate for success.
Eriksson oversaw a refinement to England’s playing that saw them become a more competitive force on the world stage – including Beckham’s 2001 awe-inspiring free kick against Greece
Beckham and Eriksson pictured in 2002 ahead of the World Cup which saw the team reach the quarter finals before being knocked out by Brazil
At the time, Beckham was already a global superstar, cemented as one of the best players in the world through his performances at Manchester United.
But on the international stage, he was at a crucial point in his career, having been named England captain by caretaker manager Peter Taylor.
Eriksson chose to keep Beckham as captain, a decision that would shape their relationship and England’s footballing fortunes in the coming years.
When speaking about Beckham, Eriksson always said he saw him as not just a star player, but a leader who could inspire the squad.
Beckham, in turn, flourished under Eriksson’s calm, unflappable leadership style, a contrast to the more volatile managers he had worked with, particularly Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.
The 2002 World Cup qualifying campaign produced one of the most iconic moments in Beckham’s career and solidified his role as England’s leader under Eriksson.
In a crucial game against Greece in October 2001, England needed a draw to qualify for the World Cup in South Korea and Japan. With the team trailing 2-1 in stoppage time, Beckham delivered a sensational free kick from 25 yards to level the score at 2-2, securing England’s place in the tournament.
Eriksson and Beckham in Portugal in 2004 during the European Championships. Eriksson brought England some much-needed panache but never saw them to a title
Eriksson quit the England post after the team was knocked out of the 2006 World Cup by Portugal during the quarter-finals (pictured with a dejected Beckham after the match)
That moment became legendary, and Eriksson later described it as one of the most emotional matches he had ever experienced. It highlighted Beckham’s ability to deliver under immense pressure and Eriksson’s trust in him.
The 2004 European Championship in Portugal was a turning point in Beckham’s and Eriksson’s partnership. England had a talented squad and high hopes, but the tournament ended in heartbreak.
In the quarter-finals against Portugal, Beckham missed a crucial penalty in the shootout, and England were eliminated. For Beckham, it was a low point, as the miss capped off a difficult tournament for him personally.
Despite the criticism that followed, Eriksson stood by his captain, publicly defending Beckham’s value to the team. He emphasised Beckham’s leadership and importance to the squad, maintaining that his captain was irreplaceable despite the public questioning his form.
The 2006 World Cup in Germany was the final chapter of Beckham and Eriksson’s partnership. By then, both men were under considerable pressure to deliver a major trophy for England.
Beckham’s form was no longer at its peak, and Eriksson’s tactical decisions were being increasingly scrutinised. However, Eriksson remained steadfast in his decision to keep Beckham as captain, relying on his experience and leadership to guide the team.
England’s tournament ended in another quarter-final exit, again to Portugal on penalties. Beckham, visibly emotional, resigned as captain shortly after the defeat, marking the end of an era for both himself and Eriksson, who also stepped down as manager.
Beckham and Eriksson continued their relationship off the pitch. Beckham will be one of many stars in attendance at Eriksson’s funeral due to take place in Sweden later today.
Beckham was pictured touching down in Karlstad airport, Sweden, with wife Victoria. Eriksson will be buried in Torsby where he grew up but the ceremony is set to be very different from a traditional funeral in the area.