Sven-Goran Eriksson was given a hero’s welcome as he attended a major gala event in Sweden just weeks after revealing his cancer diagnosis.
The terminally ill former manager of the England football team dropped a bombshell on January 11 when he said that he may only have months left and says, “I have to fight as long as I can.”
But eleven days later, the 75-year-old was getting ready to attend a gala event at Friends Arena in Stockholm, where he was billed as an “inspiration.”
“Sven has always been a great inspiration,” said former Swedish national team captain Tommy Söderberg, via Dagens Nyheter.
‘With his innovative way of thinking and a new way of playing football, he has meant a lot to Swedish football. That’s why it feels extra nice that we get the opportunity to pay tribute to him for that,” added former Sweden national football team goalkeeper Thomas Ravelli.
He was invited on stage to address the crowd before presenting the Leader of the Year trophy.
Sven-Goran Eriksson (right) was all smiles as he attended a huge gala dinner in Sweden
The terminally ill former England boss stunned the football world with his cancer diagnosis
He stepped onto the stage to thank people for their well wishes before presenting the top prizes
He thinks he has a year left to live at best, but he is determined to enjoy what is left of his life
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Eriksson fears he has another year to live, or at worst a little less, after last year’s bombshell diagnosis.
He said earlier this month: ‘Everyone understands that I have a disease that is not good. Everyone suspects it’s cancer, and it is. But I have to fight as long as I can.”
When asked what the prognosis is, he said Sweden P1 radio station that he “may have a year at best, a little less at worst, or maybe even longer at best.” You can’t be completely sure. It’s better not to think about it’.
There was speculation about his health after he stopped working as sporting director of Karlstad in his native Sweden. Today he revealed he collapsed after a run last year and discovered he was seriously ill but is otherwise fit and healthy.
He said, ‘It’s not good. Everyone suspected it was cancer, and it was. But I have to fight while I can.
‘But you can fool your brain. See the positive in things, don’t wallow in setbacks, because this is of course the biggest setback, but make something good out of it.’
But he was determined to flash a big smile as he donned a navy blue suit for the gala ceremony.
Eriksson was hailed as an ‘inspiration’ during the evening of the gala as he was a special guest
The 75-year-old received countless tributes with the news that his diagnosis rocked Sweden
Sven told P1 that he had suddenly collapsed during a 5km run.
After visiting his doctors, it turned out that Eriksson had suffered a stroke and also had cancer.
He said, “They don’t know how long I’ve had cancer, maybe a month or a year.”
In a glittering managerial career, Sven was boss of IFK Göteborg, Benfica, Roma, Roma, Fiorentina, Sampdoria, Lazio, Manchester City and Leicester City.
He was also manager of Mexico, Ivory Coast and the Philippines.
But while in charge of England for five years, he became the most famous football manager in the world.
Between 2001 and 2006 he managed the so-called ‘golden generation’ of stars such as David Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, but never won the expected major trophy.
His tragic diagnosis came almost exactly 22 years after he resigned as manager of Lazio, before taking up his coaching role with England.
Sven with his former partner Nancy Dell’olio, pictured together at a gala event in 2006
The football manager was England boss between 2001 and 2006. Sven pictured with David Beckham after being dumped out of the 2006 World Cup by Portugal in the quarter-final
Eriksson is determined to enjoy what is left of his life and that was evident from how much he enjoyed the gala dinner.
But there’s still plenty he’d like to do.
Eriksson recently admitted that his ‘dream’ would be to coach Liverpool in their upcoming Legends charity match against Ajax in March.
Supporters had called for the former England boss to be given the chance to manage the club after his terminal diagnosis was revealed.
And former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler then declared that the ‘call had come in’ to put Eriksson in the dugout for the match.
Eriksson, who admitted he has around a year to live after being diagnosed with the disease, said that as a Liverpool fan he always wanted to manage the club.
And speaking on Good Morning Britian on Monday, Eriksson was asked by the television show’s presenter Suzannah Reid whether he knew Liverpool supporters had asked him to manage the squad for the charity match and whether ‘that was something he would like to do. ?’
He replied, ‘No, I didn’t know that. I knew they had a charity game. In March I think so. And me and my son are invited to see that game. That could be great and there will be a lot of good footballers there.
‘But that I have to become their manager? No, I’ve never heard that before.’