He took Benfica to the final of the European Cup.
On Thursday, Sven-Göran Eriksson was highly praised by the Portuguese club.
– I’m crying, said a moved Svennis on the inside.
It was in January that Sven-Göran Eriksson published the shock news about his health. Svennis, Swedish football’s greatest coach of all time, had suffered from an aggressive cancer.
Celebrated by the big club
Svennis spoke openly and honestly about how, at best, he only had a year left to live. Since then, Sven-Göran Eriksson has been highly praised both at home in Sweden and abroad. He got a lot of attention at the Sports Gala, and during the spring he also got to fulfill a childhood dream of coaching Liverpool at Anfield.
Yesterday came the next, powerful and touching tribute to the icon. From 1982 to 1984, as well as 1989-1992, Sven-Göran Eriksson coached the Portuguese giants Benfica. Among other things, he took the team to a final in the European Cup. In total, there were also three league titles and a UEFA Cup final. The idea was that Svennis would be celebrated by the club already last autumn, but it had to be postponed due to his health. But yesterday was the time.
The words that touch everyone
In connection with Benfica’s quarter-final meeting in the Europa League against Marseille, Svennis was highly praised on the pitch, where he received a “Guard of honour”, among other things. At the same time, the entire arena stood up and applauded him. It was a moved Sven-Göran Eriksson who spoke to the home fans.
– I’m crying, said Svennis.
– Thanks to all Benfica fans, go Benfica, good luck in the future. Thanks everyone.
During his visit to Benfica, Sven-Göran Eriksson also got to meet several of the players he coached, who made it to the European Cup final.
– It is very beautiful, thank you very much to Benfica! I got to see my old players. Very emotional, I never expected to feel what I felt, Svennis said before the match.
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