David Beckham among guests to say goodbye to Sven-Goran Eriksson at ‘beautiful’ funeral in Sweden | World News

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

Some 600 friends attended the morning service at Fryksande Church in Eriksson’s hometown of Torsby earlier than a wake on the native museum.

His buddy and former Swedish league rival, fellow ex-England supervisor Roy Hodgson, described it as “essentially the most unimaginable, stunning ceremony… so typical of the Eriksson household and Sven himself”.

Italian lawyer Dell’Olio, who was in a relationship with the previous England supervisor from 1998 to 2007, mentioned the ceremony “instructed lots about him” and the way he “loved life”.

Eriksson’s accomplice Yaniseth Alcides, daughter Lina, son Johan, and father Sven have been all among the many congregation.

200 seats have been reserved for household, associates, and former colleagues, with the remaining 400 left free for members of the general public, as per Eriksson’s closing needs, in response to his brokers.

The service was additionally streamed on a giant display screen outdoors the constructing, the place some mourners have been seen carrying the kits of his former golf equipment.

Eriksson died aged 76 final month after being recognized with pancreatic most cancers.

“It’s a day of grief but in addition a day of thankfulness,” priest Ingela Alvskog mentioned to start the service.

She was a childhood buddy of Eriksson’s, returning to his hometown particularly for the occasion.

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Wreaths coated the previous supervisor’s coffin, together with ones despatched by FIFA and his former Italian aspect Lazio.

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

As friends left the church, they have been requested to put pink roses on Eriksson’s coffin, which was then led by way of the city amid a New Orleans-style musical procession – as per his request.

They made their strategy to the city’s close by homestead museum the place speeches and eulogies to ‘Svennis’ occurred.

‘A really particular individual’

Talking to Sky Sports activities Information, Dell’Olio mentioned: “It is fairly tough to be right here at Sven’s funeral – or as he needed, celebration.”

“To be on this a part of the world the place he’s coming from, it tells lots about him. He loved life, flamboyant, such as you say… he took this slightly from me in all probability.

“He was distinctive, I can say that.”

Derek Fazackerley, Eriksson’s assistant whereas at Manchester Metropolis and Leicester, mentioned: “He is a particular individual there is not any doubt about that.

“He was up there with a few of the very, easiest. I am happy to be right here to have the ability to have fun his life.”

Hans Backe, a former Finland supervisor who additionally labored as his assistant, mentioned he was chargeable for “a revolution” when he began out in Swedish membership soccer within the Eighties.

“There could be no Swedish coach sooner or later having his CV – that might be unattainable,” he mentioned.

He described him as a “very humble individual… all the time serving to me and different coaches”.

Roy Hodgson, who managed Swedish golf equipment on the similar time Eriksson did, instructed Sky Sports activities Information: “The very first thing I’d say is how happy I’m to be right here. I believe that is nice you get the chance to pay your respects and be a part of the unimaginable funeral organisation.

“It was essentially the most unimaginable, stunning ceremony… so typical of the Eriksson household and Sven himself to carry folks from all components of the world.”

Recalling his profession, he mentioned: “As a coach, he embraced a approach of taking part in that Sweden had began to undertake and made it his personal and Sweden’s personal.

“He put Torsby on the map. It is not a spot that many individuals would have recognized with out Sven-Goran Eriksson.”

And on his appointment as England supervisor, he added that he “received all people over”, which serves as an “unimaginable tribute”.

England’s first overseas supervisor

The Swede grew to become the primary overseas supervisor of the England males’s soccer crew in 2001, teaching gamers together with Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney, and Frank Lampard.

He left the England position after the 2006 World Cup and later managed Mexico and the Ivory Coast, in addition to English golf equipment Manchester Metropolis and Leicester Metropolis.

He rose from being a PE trainer in Sweden, to presiding over European golf equipment reminiscent of Benfica and Roma, then the peaks of English soccer.

Saying his dying in August, a household assertion mentioned: “After a protracted sickness, SGE died throughout the morning at dwelling surrounded by household.

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

Dell’Olio initially described Eriksson as her “husband” in her tribute, but it surely was later edited to say “accomplice” because the couple by no means married.

She wrote: “If you love somebody, that love by no means really fades.”

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

“We laughed, we cried & we knew we have been saying goodbye… Sven thanks for all the time being the individual you have got all the time been, passionate, caring, calm & a real gentleman…,” he wrote on Instagram.

“I will probably be ceaselessly grateful for you making me your captain however I’ll ceaselessly maintain these final reminiscences of today with you and your loved ones… Thanks Sven and in your final phrases to me: ‘It is going to be okay’.”

As a result of his well being points, Eriksson stepped down as sporting director at Swedish membership Karlstad in February 2023.

After saying his most cancers analysis, Eriksson was granted his lifelong want when he led out Liverpool Legends, as they performed in a charity match in opposition to Ajax at Anfield in March.

He described the second as “completely stunning” and a “enormous reminiscence” in his life, with Liverpool successful the sport 4-2.