David Beckham and his wife, Victoria, have just landed at Karlstad Airport in Sweden.
Their visit comes ahead of the high-profile funeral for former England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson, which is set to take place tomorrow.
Beckham, who is now 49, has traveled to Sven’s hometown of Torsby.
Eriksson was Beckham’s coach from 2001 to 2006 during a successful era for the England team.
A Fond Farewell
Sven-Göran Eriksson passed away on August 26 after a prolonged battle with pancreatic cancer.
He had been given a prognosis of “best case a year” to live after his diagnosis earlier this year.
He was surrounded by loved ones in his final moments.
In a heartfelt tribute posted on Instagram, Beckham shared a video of himself and Eriksson walking together.
He wrote, “We laughed, we cried & we knew we were saying goodbye… Sven, thank you for always being the person you have always been—passionate, caring, calm & a true gentleman.
I will be forever grateful for you making me your captain but I will forever hold these last memories of this day with you and your family… Thank you Sven.”
Eriksson’s Final Words
In the lead-up to his funeral, Eriksson’s final written words were published today with his family’s permission.
The Telegraph shared his last column, in which Eriksson spoke about living life to its fullest.
He recounted a story involving Didier Hamann, a former player, who was confused about a celebration during a meeting following Eriksson’s sacking by Manchester City in 2008.
Eriksson used the story to illustrate his philosophy: “Celebrate life. That has always been my mindset—whatever is thrown at you.”
Remembering Sven-Göran Eriksson
Sven-Göran Eriksson, who passed away at 76, will be buried in Torsby on Friday.
His memorial is expected to be a unique departure from the traditional local funeral customs.
Eriksson made history as the first foreign manager of the England national team in 2001, leading them through 67 matches until 2006.
Under his guidance, England reached the quarter-finals of the World Cups in 2002 and 2006, and the 2004 European Championships.
Known affectionately as “Svennis” in Sweden, Eriksson managed a ‘golden generation’ of players including Beckham, Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney, and Steven Gerrard.
His tenure as England manager was also marked by high-profile relationships, including with Italian lawyer Nancy Dell’Olio, Swedish TV host Ulrika Jonsson, and former FA secretary Faria Alam.
Beyond England, Eriksson had successful stints with Swedish, Portuguese, and Italian clubs, earning major trophies in the 1980s and 1990s.
After leaving England, he continued his career with the Ivory Coast in the 2010 World Cup and had roles with Manchester City and Leicester.
Mine Crypto. Earn $GOATS while it is free! Click Here!!