Beckham among guests to say goodbye to Sven-Goran Eriksson at 'beautiful' funeral

David Beckham, Nancy Dell’Olio, and Roy Hodgson were among the mourners at Sven-Goran Eriksson’s funeral in Sweden on Friday.

Some 600 guests attended the morning service at Fryksande Church in Eriksson’s hometown of Torsby before a wake at the local museum.

His friend and former Swedish league rival, fellow ex-England manager Roy Hodgson, described it as “the most incredible, beautiful ceremony… so typical of the Eriksson family and Sven himself”.

Italian lawyer Dell’Olio, who was in a relationship with the former England manager from 1998 to 2007, said the ceremony “told a lot about him” and how he “enjoyed life”.

Eriksson’s partner Yaniseth Alcides, daughter Lina, son Johan, and father Sven were all among the congregation.

Two hundred seats were reserved for family, friends, and former colleagues, with the remaining 400 left free for members of the public, as per Eriksson’s final wishes, according to his agents.

The service was also streamed on a big screen outside the building, where some mourners were seen wearing the kits of his former clubs.

Eriksson died aged 76 last month after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

“It is a day of grief but also a day of thankfulness,” priest Ingela Alvskog said to begin the service.

She was a childhood friend of Eriksson’s, returning to his hometown especially for the event.

Wreaths covered the former manager’s coffin, including ones sent by FIFA and his former Italian side Lazio.

The service started with sombre piano music but later switched to renditions of Sir Elton John’s Candle In The Wind and Frank Sinatra’s My Way.

As guests left the church, they were asked to lay red roses on Eriksson’s coffin, which was then led through the town amid a New Orleans-style musical procession – as per his request.

They made their way to the town’s nearby homestead museum where speeches and eulogies to ‘Svennis’ took place.

‘A very special person’

Speaking to Sky Sports News, Dell’Olio said: “It’s quite difficult to be here at Sven’s funeral – or as he wanted, celebration.”

“To be in this part of the world where he is coming from, it tells a lot about him. He enjoyed life, flamboyant, like you say… he took this a little from me probably.

“He was unique, I can say that.”

Derek Fazackerley, Eriksson’s assistant while at Manchester City and Leicester, said: “He’s a special person there’s no doubt about that.

“He was up there with some of the very, very best. I’m pleased to be here to be able to celebrate his life.”

Hans Backe, a former Finland manager who also worked as his assistant, said he was responsible for “a revolution” when he started out in Swedish club football in the 1980s.

“There would be no Swedish coach in the future having his CV – that would be impossible,” he said.

He described him as a “very humble person… always helping me and other coaches”.

Roy Hodgson, who managed Swedish clubs at the same time Eriksson did, told Sky Sports News: “The first thing I would say is how pleased I am to be here. I think that’s great you get the opportunity to pay your respects and be part of the incredible funeral organisation.

“It was the most incredible, beautiful ceremony… so typical of the Eriksson family and Sven himself to bring people from all parts of the world.”

Recalling his career, he said: “As a coach, he embraced a way of playing that Sweden had started to adopt and made it his own and Sweden’s own.

“He put Torsby on the map. It’s not a place that many people would have known without Sven-Goran Eriksson.”

And on his appointment as England manager, he added that he “won everybody over”, which serves as an “incredible tribute”.

England’s first foreign manager

The Swede became the first foreign manager of the England men’s football team in 2001, coaching players including Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney, and Frank Lampard.

He left the England role after the 2006 World Cup and later managed Mexico and the Ivory Coast, as well as English clubs Manchester City and Leicester City.

He rose from being a PE teacher in Sweden, to presiding over European clubs such as Benfica and Roma, then the peaks of English football.

Announcing his death in August, a family statement said: “After a long illness, SGE died during the morning at home surrounded by family.

“The closest mourners are daughter Lina; son Johan with wife Amana and granddaughter Sky; father Sven; girlfriend Yanisette with son Alcides; brother Lars-Erik with wife Jumnong.”

Dell’Olio initially described Eriksson as her “husband” in her tribute, but it was later edited to say “partner” as the couple never married.

She wrote: “When you love someone, that love never truly fades.”

In his tribute, Beckham described Eriksson as a “true gentleman”.

“We laughed, we cried & we knew we were saying goodbye… Sven thank you for always being the person you have always been, passionate, caring, calm & a true gentleman…,” he wrote on Instagram.

“I will be forever grateful for you making me your captain but I will forever hold these last memories of this day with you and your family… Thank you Sven and in your last words to me: ‘It will be ok’.”

Due to his health issues, Eriksson stepped down as sporting director at Swedish club Karlstad in February 2023.

After announcing his cancer diagnosis, Eriksson was granted his lifelong wish when he led out Liverpool Legends, as they played in a charity match against Ajax at Anfield in March.

He described the moment as “absolutely beautiful” and a “huge memory” in his life, with Liverpool winning the game 4-2.

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