David Beckham joins mourners at Sven-Göran Eriksson’s funeral in Sweden
David Beckham attended the funeral of former England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson in Eriksson's hometown of Torsby, Sweden. There, he listened to heartfelt tributes celebrating a man who was truly kind and had a passion for fine food, good drinks, and first-class travel.
Speaking to a packed congregation inside Fryksände church, with many more gathered outside watching on a large screen, the priest and close friend of Eriksson, Ingela Alvskog, shared that Eriksson's last months were “full of life,” even after he received a terminal pancreatic cancer diagnosis.
Eriksson, who passed away at 76, created "countless wonderful memories" and filled the lives of his friends and family with "great happiness" and "plenty of laughter." This includes his 95-year-old father, Sven, his children, Johan and Lina, and his partner, Yaniseth Alcides, as she mentioned.
At 49 years old, Beckham, who served as England's captain while Eriksson faced a challenging five years leading the national team, embraced Eriksson's ex-partner Nancy Dell’Olio as they arrived at the church. This was before the memorial speeches took place by Lake Fryken.
The hour-long church service shifted between English and Swedish and featured performances of Elton John's "Candle in the Wind" and Frank Sinatra's "My Way." It also highlighted Eriksson's appreciation for structure and discipline, alongside his enjoyment of a lavish lifestyle.
Eriksson, who guided England to the quarter-finals of three major tournaments from 2001 to 2006 and helped Lazio win their first Serie A title in 26 years, had a penchant for wearing suits even as a teenager. However, he also had a playful side; he would put a sign on his bedroom door that read "no entry – homework in progress" so he could sneak in some extra time to enjoy detective novels in bed.
In the last months of his life, Eriksson fulfilled a long-held dream of his: managing Liverpool. He had the opportunity to do this during a charity match in March, where he led a team of "legends" at Anfield.
A local brass band paid tribute to his love for Liverpool by playing "You'll Never Walk Alone" as the hearse left the area following the ceremony.
Roy Hodgson, who took over as England's manager six years after Eriksson stepped down, was also present, along with some members of the Swedish royal family.
Prior to the speeches given by Lake Fryken, Beckham, who had spent time with Eriksson a few weeks prior to his passing, took a moment to walk with the family and softly placed his hand on his former manager’s coffin.
Eriksson’s son, Johan, 45, referred to the lake as his father's cherished place. "The tranquility and serenity were essential aspects of who he was," he shared. Eriksson’s daughter, Lina, 37, mentioned that her father desired a celebration of life that was “filled with joy, music, and happiness.” She continued, "In his own words, 'Don’t feel sad. Smile, look after yourself, embrace your life, and live it fully because life is wonderful.'"
