England’s former national coach Sven-Göran Eriksson is terminally ill. He is seriously ill with cancer and at best has perhaps a year to live
This is what the 75-year-old said in an interview published by Swedish radio station SR P1 on Thursday. It is therefore incurable pancreatic cancer. Almost a year ago, the Swede had already announced that he would have to take a career break for health reasons.
“It’s the pancreas. You can slow it down, but you can’t operate on it,” said Eriksson, adding: “I know that at best I have a year left, at worst less. “
“I will make the best of it “
Eriksson described the serious illness as “not nice” and explained: “I will make the best of it and fight it as long as I can. “
“Svennis”, as the long-time successful coach is affectionately known in his home country, withdrew from the public eye in February last year due to health problems. During a subsequent examination, he received the devastating diagnosis of cancer.
Two-time European Cup winner
Eriksson can look back on a coaching career spanning over 40 years with numerous successes. Among others, he has managed the English national team and major clubs such as Manchester City, AS and Lazio Rome and Benfica Lisbon. With IFK Göteborg, he surprisingly won the UEFA Cup, first beating 1. FC Kaiserslautern in the semi-final and then Hamburger SV in the final. Eriksson won the European Cup Winners’ Cup with Lazio Roma
Sweden’s greatest soccer coach
From 2001 to 2006, he was the first foreigner ever to coach the England national team, which the Swede led to the quarter-finals at the 2002 World Cup, the 2004 European Championship and the 2006 World Cup in Germany. In Sweden, “Svennis” is regarded as the greatest soccer coach the country has ever had.
