Sven-Goran Eriksson gives emotional final goodbye message following cancer diagnosis
Former England and Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has shared an emotional final message with fans after a devastating cancer diagnosis.
Eriksson, 76, revealed that he had been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer earlier this year, telling fans in January that he had been given 'a little less' than a year to live.
"I have to fight as long as possible," he added at the time.
Eriksson has now reflected further on his life and career in upcoming Amazon Prime documentary titled Sven, which premieres on 23 August, as well as sharing a poignant goodbye to fans.
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"I had a good life, yes," Eriksson said.
Reflecting on the fact that he was now near the end of his life, the football manager continued: "I think we all are scared of the day when it's finished, when we die. But the life is about death as well. You have to learn to accept it, of what it is.
"Hopefully at the end, people will say, 'Yeah, he was a good man'. But everyone will not say that."
Eriksson also revealed how he would like to be remembered after his death, telling fans not to be 'sorry' but instead to 'smile' when remembering him and his achievements.
"I hope you will remember me as a positive guy trying to do everything he could do," he said. "Don't be sorry. Smile. Thank you for everything - coaches, players, the crowd. It's been fantastic. Take care of yourself, and take care of your life, and live it. Bye."
Eriksson enjoyed major success as a football manager, coaching clubs such as Benfica, Roma and the Mexican national team. He also had a stint managing English sides Leicester City and Manchester City.
He is best known for his time in charge of the English national team, leading the Three Lions between 2001 and 2006.
The first non-English manager to lead the side, Eriksson would be in charge during the Three Lions' 2002 and 2006 World Cup campaigns, where he led them to the quarterfinal, as well the 2004 Euros.
Eriksson had confirmed his cancer diagnosis during an interview on Swedish radio station P1 in January, saying: "Everyone understands that I have an illness that is not good. Everyone guessed it's cancer and it is. But I have to fight as long as I can."
When asked about his diagnosis, he added: "I know that in the best case it’s about a year, in the worst case even less.
"Or in the best case I suppose even longer. I don’t think the doctors I have can be totally sure, they can’t put a day on it. It’s better not to think about it."
Brenna Cooper