Legendary coach who once rejected Super Eagles job releases heartfelt farewell message

Legendary Swedish coach Sven-Göran Eriksson, known for his influential career in football management, has released a heartfelt farewell message as he battles terminal pancreatic cancer.

The 76-year-old former England national team manager, who once turned down an offer to coach Nigeria’s Super Eagles, shared his emotional thoughts in a teaser for an upcoming Amazon Prime documentary titled “Sven,” set to be released on August 23rd.

Eriksson, diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer earlier this year, revealed that he was given only a year to live. As his time nears its end, the former Ivory Coast manager took the opportunity to express his gratitude and reflect on his life and career.

In the poignant farewell message, Eriksson began by saying, “Don’t be sorry… smile. I had a good life, yes. I think we all are scared of the day when it’s finished, when we die. But life is about death as well. You have to learn to accept it for what it is.”

He continued with a message of hope and positivity: “Hopefully at the end, people will say, ‘Yeah, he was a good man.’ But everyone will not say that. I hope you will remember me as a positive guy trying to do everything he could do. Don’t be sorry. Smile. Thank you for everything—coaches, players, the crowd. It’s been fantastic. Take care of yourself, and take care of your life, and live it. Bye.”

Eriksson’s legacy in football includes his historic tenure as England’s first foreign manager, leading the team from 2001 to 2006 during what was considered the “Golden Generation.” He was also linked with the Super Eagles coaching job ahead of the 2010 World Cup but ultimately declined the offer due to concerns over a proposed payment structure by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Reflecting on the experience, Eriksson had previously shared how he was asked to divert half of his publicized salary to another account, a request he found unacceptable. His rejection of the offer paved the way for his compatriot Lars Lagerbäck to take the helm, though the Super Eagles’ performance at the 2010 World Cup was disappointing.

Eriksson’s farewell message and the upcoming documentary provide a final glimpse into the life of a coach who left an indelible mark on football, and whose legacy will be remembered by fans and players alike.