I was lucky to know Sven in his final years – cancer never changed him

Eriksson, who has died at the age of 76, wrote three columns for Telegraph Sport during the Euros

Sven-Goran Eriksson was one of football’s great characters: a charming, calm man who remained positive up to his final days.
Thursday, July 18 was the last time I spoke to him and it was clear on that afternoon, over a Zoom call, that he was very unwell. It was a struggle for him to speak for long periods of time.
Despite the pain he must have been suffering from such a cruel and debilitating illness, he always remained the same: unfailingly polite, dignified, humble and warm.
That often mischievous sense of humour and glint in the eye was also never far away.
He died on Monday morning, surrounded by family and friends, and his absence will be a huge void in their lives.
There will be journalists across the world who will have known Sven far better than I did but I first met him in November 2022, at his glorious and beloved country house in Sunne, with Lake Fryken glistening in the background.
He was charming, hospitable and great company. No subjects were off limits, and he addressed them all, from his England regrets to the tabloid stings and his weakness for women. We even managed to fit in a game of pool.
I was then fortunate enough in June and July to put together three columns with him during the European Championship.
These were often delayed by his declining health but he would always apologise – like a football writer saying sorry for filing copy late – not that he ever needed to.
He remained loyal to Gareth Southgate throughout the tournament, later insisting that the next England manager would face a significant challenge to repeat his success.
In his final column, as we reflected on his career and life, he wanted to deliver a message. It now seems very poignant and inspirational.
“Never give up” were his words. He said it could apply to both football and life.
He remained relentlessly upbeat about everything, after first revealing his cancer diagnosis in January this year.
He knew time was against him, but wanted to make sure that he fulfilled some of his remaining ambitions.
Travelling to England to watch Liverpool at Anfield was one of them. He was genuinely taken aback by the affection that he received, and said it gave him strength. On the day he managed the club in their Liverpool Legends match against Ajax, he was reduced to tears during a stirring rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone, later admitting it was a “memory for life” as 60,000 people serenaded him.
What a life he had. From leading the outstanding Lazio team of the Nineties, to winning countless trophies with Benfica and Gothenburg, Eriksson has an outstanding list of achievements.
Taking over the England team was, in his opinion, the best job in football and what a ride it was.
It wasn’t as bad as people made out, either. The remarkable 5-1 thrashing of Germany in Munich taught England fans how to dream.
He oversaw the ‘Golden Generation’ and always spoke with regret over England’s failure to win a trophy.
The tabloid stories over his personal life hurt him deeply and, in his opinion, cost him the job in 2006. This was an era of phone hacking and, even in his final weeks, he spoke of his distaste at the treatment he received from certain sections of the media.
England was not the end of the journey. There was a chaotic time at Manchester City, plus spells with the Mexico national team and Leicester City.
He had an eventful time at Notts County, when the lure of taking the club all the way to the Premier League ended in misery with the dream built on sand.
Eriksson fought his battle with cancer with dignity and refused to wallow in self-pity.
When his diagnosis was revealed, he was well aware of the outpouring of love from across the world.
He will have known how many people liked and respected him. His final message demonstrated that deep understanding of the love that existed. “Don’t be sorry, smile,” he said in his Amazon documentary. “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.”
Football will miss such a presence and, away from his achievements in the game, he is a timely reminder of the importance in being nice to people.