Sven-Goran Eriksson Reveals Cancer Diagnosis and Positive Outlook

Former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson has recently announced that he has been diagnosed with cancer and estimates that he may have a year to live.

A Distinguished Career

Eriksson, a 75-year-old Swede, was the first foreign coach to manage the England national team. Under his leadership, England reached the quarter-finals of the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, as well as the 2004 Euros.

A Positive Outlook

Eriksson remains optimistic despite his diagnosis. In an interview with Swedish Radio P1, he stated, “I’m going to resist for as long as I can. I have an illness that’s serious. Best case scenario, I have a year, but it’s impossible to say exactly.”

Eriksson believes in staying positive and finding the silver lining in difficult situations. He said, “You try to trick the brain, it’s too easy to succumb and become negative and get stuck at home. Better to try and see positives and not give in during hard times.”

A Remarkable Career in Football

Eriksson had a successful 42-year career in football management. He started his managerial journey with Degerfors in 1977 and went on to achieve great success with Swedish side Gothenburg, winning the Swedish title, two Swedish cups, and the 1981 UEFA Cup.

He then had stints with renowned clubs such as Benfica, Roma, Fiorentina, Sampdoria, and Lazio, winning a total of seven trophies including the Serie A title, two Italian Cups, and the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.

Eriksson’s most notable role was as the England manager, succeeding Kevin Keegan in 2001. He led the team for five years before leaving after the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Although his departure was surrounded by controversy, Eriksson continued his managerial career with clubs like Manchester City and Leicester City, as well as national teams including Mexico, Ivory Coast, and the Philippines.

His final club jobs were in the Chinese Super League, and his last managerial position was a brief spell as the Philippines boss in 2018-2019.

A Determined Spirit

Despite his health issues, Eriksson remains determined to make the most of his time and stay positive. He hopes to inspire others by facing adversity head-on and finding strength in difficult circumstances.