INCREDIBLE treasures owned by legendary manager Sven-Goran Eriksson have been put on sale – including a snazzy Armani suit and various winners medals.
Football went into mourning when the legendary coach passed away from pancreatic cancer at the age of 76 in August last year.
The TimesValuable items once owned by the late Sven-Goran Eriksson have been put up for sale[/caption]
bna.nuweauctionsIncluded is the legend’s winning Serie A medal with Lazio[/caption]
bna.nuweauctionsThe manager’s Armani suit he wore during his time as England boss will also be flogged[/caption]
Eriksson was one of the country’s best performing managers, taking the national team to two World Cups and one Euros quarter final.
But eye-opening accounts published in his native Sweden on January 14 reveal he had debts totalling 118 million kronor – the equivalent of £8.6 million – when he died.
A staggering £7.2 million of that was owed to His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in the UK.
Now, a cluster of the late manager’s valuable belongings have been flogged.
The items all have a starting price of 100 Swedish Krona, equal to roughly £7.
The splendid collection feature items commemorating Sven’s accomplished career as head coach of the England national team, Italian giants Lazio and Roma and in the Premier League with Manchester City, among others.
The collection includes several Armani and Burton jackets from Eriksson’s time as England manager.
An Ivory Coast jersey signed by iconic former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is included in the auction, as are winning medals from Eriksson’s tenure guiding Lazio and Roma to silverware.
For the former, punters can put in a bid for the legend’s eye-catching Serie A winners’ medal from the 1999/2000 season.
For the latter, a Coppa Italia medal is available to buy from the same year.
An award commemorating the Swede’s Premier League Manager of the Month award during his time as gaffer of Manchester City also features.
LEGENDARY BOSS
The Swede became the first foreign manager of the England men’s football team in 2001.
He managed superstars such as Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes, David Beckham and Michael Owen.
During his time with England Eriksson managed 67 matches, he won 40 and lost 10 – of his 67 games 40 were competitive.
Eriksson left the England role after the 2006 World Cup and would later manage a host of clubs at domestic and international level.
Due to his health issues, he was sadly forced to step down as sporting director at Swedish club Karlstad in February 2023.
After announcing his cancer diagnosis, Eriksson was granted his lifelong wish when he led out Liverpool Legends, as they played in a charity match against Ajax at Anfield in March.
Revealing his illness in January, Eriksson told P1: “Everyone understands that I have an illness that is not good.
“Everyone guesses it’s cancer and it is. But I have to fight as long as I can.”
When asked about the prognosis, Eriksson said he has “maybe at best a year, at worst a little less, or at best maybe even longer”.
He added: “You can’t be absolutely sure. It is better not to think about it.
“But you can trick your brain. See the positive in things, don’t wallow in adversity, because this is the biggest adversity of course, but make something good out of it.”
The 76-year-old has now seen his life chronicled in a documentary for Amazon Prime Video where he gave a touching farewell.
TEARFUL FAREWELL
Sven gave a poignant final message to former players, coaches and supporters after speaking openly about his affairs and life in the film.
In a touching clip at the end of the documentary, Sven told viewers: “I had a good life. I think we are all scared of the day when we die, but life is about death as well.
“You have to learn to accept it for what it is. 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 crowds, it’s been fantastic. Take care of yourself and take care of your life. And live it.”
The film then pans back to Sven in his home, with the former England manager concluding his message with “bye”.
During Eriksson’s time at the helm, England’s “Golden Generation” went from 17th in the world rankings to fifth.
bna.nuweauctionsSven-Goran Eriksson’s nabbed the Manager of the Month prize during his time as gaffer of Manchester City[/caption]
bna.nuweauctionsIconic striker Didier Drogba’s gave his signed Ivory Coast jersey to his former manager[/caption]
bna.nuweauctionsA handful of other signed jerseys from previous teams Eriksson coached are included in the auction[/caption]
Sven-Goran Eriksson’s managerial career
FOLLOWING Sven-Goran Eriksson’s death from his battle with cancer, SunSport takes a look at his remarkable managerial career…
PROMISING START
It began in Sweden in 1977 where he won the third division with Degerfors, before he joined Gothenburg and won two Swedish Cups and the Uefa Cup.
He then took over at Benfica in 1982 and spent two seasons with the Portuguese giants where he won back-to-back league titles.
INCREDIBLE ITALIAN SUCCESS
Stints followed in Italy with Roma and Fiorentina, but he returned to Benfica in 1989 and reached the European Cup final before losing to AC Milan.
Eriksson claimed a third league title with Benfica the following year, leaving in 1992 for Sampdoria.
He spent five seasons with the Serie A side, winning the Copa Italia in 1994.
Eriksson then added another two Coppa Italias to his trophy cabinet with Lazio across a four-year spell.
ENGLAND APPOINTMENT
Then came the England job in 2001 where he spent five years at the helm of the national side.
He reached the quarter-finals of World Cup 2002, losing 2-1 to eventual winners Brazil.
England then suffered back-to-back eliminations at the hands of Portugal at Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006.
PREMIER LEAGUE SPELLS
After leaving the Three Lions following his third major tournament, he spent one season at Manchester City.
Spells followed at Mexico, Ivory Coast and Leicester, before he moved to China where he coached three clubs across a four-year period.
His last managerial stint came for the Philippines national team, a position he held from October 2018 to January 2019.
MAJOR HONOURS
Portugal League title x 3 (Benfica 82/83, 83/84, 90/91)
Copa Italia x 4 (Roma 85/86, Sampdoria 93/94, Lazio 97/98, 99/00)
Serie A title (Lazio 99/00)
Uefa Cup Winners’ Cup (Lazio 98/99)
Uefa Super Cup (Lazio 99)
BBC Sports Personality Coach of the Year (England 2001)
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