David Beckham joined mourners on the funeral of former England supervisor Sven-Göran Eriksson in his house city of Torsby in Sweden to listen to tributes to a “genuinely form” man who “liked good foods and drinks and travelling first-class”.
Addressing full pews within the Fryksände church, and lots of extra watching exterior on an enormous display screen, the priest, a detailed good friend of Eriksson, Ingela Alvskog, spoke of a closing months that had been “vigorous” regardless of him being recognized with terminal most cancers of the pancreas.
Eriksson, who died on the age of 76, had left “so many stunning reminiscences” and had “introduced a lot pleasure” and “a number of laughter” to the lives to his family and friends, together with his 95-year-old father, Sven, his youngsters, Johan and Lina, and associate, Yaniseth Alcides, she mentioned.
Beckham, 49, who was captain of England in the course of the Swede’s 5 tumultuous years answerable for the nationwide staff, hugged Eriksson’s former associate Nancy Dell’Olio as they attended the church earlier than eulogies by close by Lake Fryken.
The hour-long church service, which switched between English and Swedish, included renditions of Elton John’s Candle within the Wind and Frank Sinatra’s My Method, and heard of Eriksson’s love of routine and self-discipline in addition to the excessive life.
Eriksson, who led England to 3 main match quarter-finals between 2001 and 2006 after securing the Italian membership Lazio their first Serie A title in 26 years, would typically select to put on a swimsuit as a young person however was additionally recognized to submit an indication on his bed room door saying “no entry – homework in progress”, to provide himself additional time to learn detective novels in mattress.
There was additionally a reference to Eriksson’s realisation of a lifelong dream within the closing months of his life to handle Liverpool, which he did in a charity match in March when he took cost of a “legends” aspect at Anfield.
His emotions for Liverpool had been commemorated by an area brass band taking part in You’ll By no means Stroll Alone because the hearse made its method out of the grounds after the ceremony.
Additionally amongst these attending was Roy Hodgson, who managed England six years after Eriksson’s resignation, together with members of Sweden’s royal household.
Earlier than the speeches by Lake Fryken, Beckham, who had visited Eriksson just a few weeks earlier than his demise, walked with the household earlier than gently laying his hand on his former supervisor’s coffin.
Eriksson’s son, Johan, 45, described the lake as his father’s “nook of the world”. “The peace, the calmness shaped an enormous a part of his character,” he mentioned. Eriksson’s daughter, Lina, 37, mentioned that her father had wished a funeral “stuffed with pleasure, music and happiness”. She added: “In Dad’s personal phrases, ‘Don’t be sorry, smile, take of your self and maintain your life and dwell it as a result of life is gorgeous.’”