PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Video greetings, standing ovations and lots of emotions.
Sven-Göran Eriksson was highly praised at the Sports Gala.
– You make me cry, says the Swedish coaching legend from the stage.
“Svennis” told the Sunday interview in P1 that he had been affected by cancer and that he “has at best a year left to live”. On Monday, he attended the Sports Gala and sat at the honor table.
During the gala, Svennis received video greetings from the football profiles Torbjörn Nilsson, Jonas Thern, Gareth Southgate, John Terry and Wayne Rooney.
Svennis is celebrated
The tributes and the warm applause never wanted to end and many who were at the Friends arena in Solna were teary-eyed. No wonder, considering what “Svennis” meant to Swedish football and Swedish sports in general. The moment of the evening was when he took to the stage to present the award to the leader of the year.
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Steadily he rose, paused a little, looked around, and then tried to take in the tributes.
– Huge thanks to everyone. I don’t think I deserve all the credit, but thank you. Have a nice evening. Thank you for everything, says Sven-Göran Eriksson while he struggled to hold back tears.
Afterwards, Svennis told what it was like to step on stage:
– Of course very large. Sports Sweden is here. Touching, beautiful. It was very, very grateful, he says.
During the gala, several profiles paid tribute to him. Lars Lagerbäckformer Swedish national football captain, tells TT:
– He has meant a great deal. He belonged to this generation that came after Bob (Houghton) and Roy (Hodgson) and has done an incredibly good job as a coach wherever he has been. If you look at international assignments, he is the one who has put Sweden on the map in football the most, possibly together with Lennart Johansson.
“Made an impression”
Thomas Ravelliformer national team goalkeeper in soccer, says that it is “extremely tragic and sad” about Svenni’s illness.
– I have texted him and received a reply as well. So I hope we can celebrate him a little tonight, he says.
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The athletics legend Stefan Holmwho is from Värmland just like Svennis, says that he received the news with consternation.
What has he meant to Swedish sport?
– What he did with IFK Göteborg and then internationally with Benfica, Lazio and not least as English national team captain… To come to football’s homeland and take over the proudest thing they have. He has made a mark in Swedish sports history and in the world’s sports history, says Holm.
READ MORE: Armand Duplanti’s powerful response after Ingemar Stenmark’s incredible display – the feat that shocks all Swedes: “Oh, dear someone”
Born: 5 February 1948 in Sunne.
Profession: Soccer coach.
Clubs as players: Torsby, Sifhälla, Karlskoga.
Clubs as coaches: Degerfors (1977–1978), IFK Gothenburg (1979–1982), Benfica, Portugal (1982–1984), Roma, Italy (1984–1987), Fiorentina, Italy (1987–1989), Benfica (1989–1992), Sampdoria , Italy (1992–1997), Lazio (1997–2001), Manchester City, England (2007–2008), Notts County, England (Sporting Director 2009–2010), Leicester, England (2010–2011), Tero Sasana, Thailand ( sporting director 2012), al-Nasr, United Arab Emirates (technical advisor 2013), Guangzhou, China (2013–2014), Shanghai (2014–2016), Shenzhen, China (2016–2017), IF Karlstad (sporting advisor 2022–2023) .
Countries as confederation captains: England (2001–2006), Mexico (2008–2009), Ivory Coast (2010), Philippines (2019).
Main merits: Swedish champion, cup champion and Uefa cup champion with IFK Göteborg, league and cup champion with Benfica, cup champion with Roma, Sampdoria and Lazio. Italian champion and winner of the Cup Winners’ Cup with Lazio. Reached the quarter-finals with England in WC 2002, EC 2004 and in WC 2006.
Other: Named Swede of the Year in the world in 2001.
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