The funeral of the recently deceased Sven-Goran Eriksson was held today in the Swedish town of Torsby, where the former football manager grew up, Afrosport reports.
The ceremony, which took place inside the church, was attended by several hundreds of people, including some of Eriksson’s former players like ex-England captain David Beckham.
Eriksson, who announced in January that he was terminally ill with pancreatic cancer, passed on last month at the age of 76.
Shortly after the hour-long service, Eriksson’s coffin was then led in procession to a nearby community centre. while a brass band played music including “You’ll Never Walk Alone”, the anthem of English club Liverpool, whom Eriksson supported and coached in a legends game in March.
The former Ivory Coast and England coach, was the first foreigner to manage the Three Lions, and he enjoyed a career that spanned across decades, winning numerous titles for clubs in Sweden, Portugal and Italy.
Eriksson held 16 managerial positions, including coaching 12 clubs, the likes of City, Leicester City, Fiorentina, Roma, and Lazio, winning 18 trophies.
Following an early retirement as a player at the age of 27, Eriksson began his managerial career with Degerfors in 1977, winning the Swedish title. Two years later, he joined fellow Swedish side Gothenburg, where he got two Swedish cups and the 1982 UEFA Cup.
Shortly after, he went on to coach Portuguese side Benfica on two occasions, winning five titles, including three league titles. He coached Italian sides Roma, Fiorentina, Sampdoria, and Lazio, winning seven trophies, including the Serie A title, two Italian Cups, and the European Cup Winners’ Cup.
