David Beckham shares heartbreaking tribute to Sven-Goran Eriksson – joining England’s gold generation mourning manager’s loss

David Beckham has shared a heartbreaking tribute to Sven-Goran Eriksson on Instagram, in what appears to be his final meeting with the former England manager.

Becks’ social media post shows a clip of him and the 76-year-old Swede walking, talking and laughing together at what appears to be Eriksson’s home in Sunne.

He paid his tribute after the football legend’s family announced earlier today that he had died from pancreatic cancer.

There is no date on the video, but it was made after Eriksson revealed earlier this year that Beckham had visited him with a private chef and a crate of expensive wine from key years in the manager’s career.

Eriksson’s family gathered around the Swedish icon’s bedside when he passed away earlier this morning, prompting an outpouring of tributes from across the football world and beyond.

It goes like this:

Beckham’s post has been liked more than 250,000 times since it was posted earlier this afternoon.

In the caption, the former England midfielder said he knew the meeting with his former coach would likely be his last.

He wrote: ‘We laughed, we cried and we knew we were saying goodbye.

‘Sven, thank you for always being the person you always were: passionate, caring, calm and a true gentleman.

‘I will be eternally grateful to you for appointing me as your captain, but I will cherish the memories of this last day with you and your family forever.

‘Thank you Sven and in your last words to me: “It will be alright”.’

It is not known when the video was recorded, but Eriksson revealed in June that Beckham had visited him after announcing in January that he had “best case scenario” a year to live.

During an interview with Swedish radio channel P4 Varmland two months ago, the 76-year-old said that Becks had visited him at his farm outside Sunne.

“He came with six liters of wine made from dates that were important to me,” Eriksson said.

“He had wine from 1948 – the year I was born, very kind of him. He is sincere, he could have been a big diva, but he is the opposite.”

Beckham also brought wine from 1982, when Eriksson won the UEFA Cup with IFK Goteborg, and from 2000, the year he won the Serie A title with Lazio.

In 2001 he became England manager, the team’s first foreign manager, and gave the team a much-needed firm hand, transforming it into a more advanced and tactically refined team.

Eriksson added: ‘The day before he sent a chef who prepared the food, and then he came over one day. We sat and chatted and talked mainly about football.

“It confirms, in a way, how great he is. He didn’t have to come here. I was proud that he came.”

However, he was praised for his inspiring and optimistic view of his diagnosis, urging others to live life to the fullest.

Shortly after announcing his diagnosis, he revealed his lifelong dream of coaching Liverpool, a goal he achieved in March when he led the Liverpool Legends to a 4-2 win over Ajax Legends at Anfield.

Earlier this year, he told MailOnline that Beckham was among the people he spoke to after going public with the news of his cancer in an interview on Swedish Radio.

He said: ‘It’s been crazy. The phone hasn’t stopped ringing since the radio interview went on, I’m surprised by all the support, I didn’t expect any of it. I never imagined this kind of reaction.

‘To be honest, it wasn’t supposed to air until Sunday, but it did and that’s fine. I can’t help it, but I’ve had so many phone calls, all the time, that’s nice.

‘I spoke to David Beckham, I won’t say what he said but it was very kind of him to call. We speak occasionally, every few months and I’ve also heard from (former Man City manager) Roberto Mancini.

‘I’ve heard from people who were in the Football Association when I was there. Wayne Rooney’s agent messaged me and then I’ve had surprise phone calls from people I haven’t heard from for years, but that’s the way it is.’

In a Prime Video documentary released days before his death, Sven spoke candidly about the highs and lows of his life, as well as how he dealt with the news that he had been diagnosed with cancer.

He said: ‘It was a shock. It’s one of those that never goes away.

“But you can hopefully slow them down. I don’t have any pain, but I know it’s there.

‘One day it will get you. Live for that day instead of sitting around thinking about what and when it will happen.’

Eriksson’s children, Lina and Johan, said in a statement: “Our father Sven-Goran Eriksson passed away peacefully this morning at his home in Björkefors outside Sunne. He fought bravely against his illness for a long time, but now it is over.

Our thoughts go out to Sven-Goran’s father Sven; his girlfriend Yaniseth and her son Alcides; his brother Lasse and his wife Jumnong, and to all the good friends and acquaintances in Sweden and all over the world.

‘Dad told us about his serious illness at the beginning of this year and received a wonderful response from friends and football fans from all over Europe.

‘He was invited to several football teams in England, Italy, Portugal and Sweden. They shared their love for football and for dad. It was unforgettable for him and us.

‘He expressed his appreciation and joy and said that such beautiful words are normally only spoken when someone has passed away.’

They added a quote from Sven himself, in which he said: ‘I may hear it as long as I live and I am incredibly grateful for that. The heart beats twice and the tears come.

“I had the best job in the world and I was happy every day for a long time. It was fantastic.”

Lina and Johan added: ‘We have shared his gratitude and experienced the wonderful encounters between him, football and all his friends. We thank everyone for these positive memories and your support during his illness.

‘We hope that you will remember Svennis as the good and positive person he always was, both in public and at home with us.’