By Humberto Viera
Aug 26, 2024, 1:43 PM EDT
Sven-Göran Eriksson, the legendary Swedish coach, passed away on 26 August 2024, just a few days after the premiere of the documentary entitled “Sven”, available on Amazon Prime since 23 August. This documentary, filmed during his final months of life, revealed Eriksson’s difficult battle with terminal cancer and presented some of his most emotional reflections on his life and legacy.
In the trailer for the documentary, Eriksson shared touching words that resonated like an early farewell: “I had a good life. Maybe too good, you have to pay for it (smiles). I think we are all afraid of the day we die, but life is also about death. You have to learn to accept it as it is. Hopefully, in the end people will say: ‘yes, he was a good man,’” he said.
Sven said goodbye with a message full of gratitude and hope: “I hope you remember me as a positive person who tried to do everything I could. Don’t regret it, smile. Thank you for everything, coaches, players, fans… it’s been fantastic. Take care of yourselves and take care of your life. And live it. Goodbye.” These words were immortalized in the documentary and became an emotional farewell to all those who were part of his life and career.
The coach, who died at the age of 76, had announced in January 2024 on Swedish Radio that he was suffering from cancer and had, at best, one year left to live.
From that moment on, displays of affection and admiration were not long in coming. Football figures, as well as former players from the England and Mexico national teams, along with teams such as Manchester City, Liverpool and Lazio, paid tribute to him.
In fact, the tribute paid to him by Liverpool was very important. Eriksson was always passionate about Liverpool, a team that his father was a supporter of. Although he never had the opportunity to manage the Anfield club, on March 23, 2024, Liverpool extended him a special invitation to be the coach in a legends match against Ajax, held at the legendary Anfield stadium.
Continue reading:
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