Sven-Goran Eriksson gives goodbye message in poignant documentary
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Sven-Goran Eriksson expressed his desire to be remembered as a "positive individual" in his final message as the ex-England coach.
In January, Eriksson shared that he had received a diagnosis of advanced pancreatic cancer and was told he most likely had one year left to live.
The 76-year-old's life story has been captured in a documentary available on Amazon Prime Video. It focuses on his impactful time as the leader of England from 2001 to 2006.
The manager from Sweden has also led teams at Manchester City and Leicester. Throughout their extensive and diverse career, they have had coaching opportunities in various countries across four continents.
In the closing scenes of the upcoming documentary set to premiere on August 23rd, Eriksson reflects on his fulfilling life. He muses on the inevitable fear we all harbor about death, acknowledging that death is a part of the cycle of life.
You must learn to acknowledge it as it is. Ideally, in the end, others will reflect and think, "Yes, he was a decent person." However, not everyone will share that sentiment.
I want to be remembered as someone who always tried to stay positive and do their best. Don't feel bad, just smile. I appreciate all the support from the coaches, players, and fans - it's been amazing. Remember to take care of yourself and live your life to the fullest.
Eriksson became the initial non-native manager to lead England's men's team, guiding them to the quarterfinals of the 2002 and 2006 World Cups.
He received negative feedback for not being able to fully utilize a highly anticipated group of players known as the "Golden Generation." Additionally, England was eliminated from Euro 2004 in the quarterfinals.
The coach won championships in Sweden, Portugal, and Italy with teams in Gothenburg, Benfica, and Lazio. His personal life, outside of his career in soccer, was often talked about in the media due to his relationships with TV personality Ulrika Jonsson and Football Association secretary Faria Alam.
