Sven-Goran Eriksson’s close friend delivers heartbreaking update on ex-England manager’s health following cancer diagnosis, claiming he is ‘too ill to go on his favourite lakeside walk’

Sven-Goran Eriksson’s friend and lawyer has delivered an update on the former England manager’s health and says the 76-year-old is ‘too ill to go on his favourite lakeside walk’.

In January, the Swede revealed he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and said he was approaching the end of his life. Eriksson had also said that the ‘best case scenario’ was that he only had one year left to live.

Amazon Prime have also this month released a poignant documentary titled ‘Sven’ in which Eriksson reflected on his life, his time in football and spoke on his battle with cancer.

During the documentary, the former football manager, who is currently living in Sweden, is seen speaking while sat next to Lake Fryken, near to his family home in Varmland.

‘I always thought this is a great place to sleep,’ he said during the documentary, while looking out over the lake.

Sven-Goran Eriksson’s close friend has stated that the former football coach is sadly ‘too ill to go on his favourite lakeside walk’

Eriksson led England from 2001 to 2006 and enjoyed a successful career as a football manager

The documentary sees Eriksson reflect on his time as England boss and his cancer diagnosis

‘The ashes could be thrown into the water here.’

Sadly, his friend and lawyer, Anders Runebjer, has revealed that Eriksson’s condition means that the former football manager is no longer able to visit the lake.

Speaking to The Mirror, Runebjer said: ‘I’ve seen Sven and how do I feel? I feel sad but I am happy to have known Sven and know that I can still see him. This is my reaction.

‘He is such a tremendous person,’ he added.

‘Lake Fryken is beautiful. It is 90 kilometres long from south to north and it is a beautiful landscape. You can see that in the pictures. You can definitely fish in that lake too.

‘But sadly his condition does not allow Sven to do that any more. It is a hard time for him.’

Eriksson enjoyed a successful career as a football manager, coaching at many clubs including Benfica, Leicester, Lazio, Manchester City and Roma and led England between 2001 and 2006.

He was the first-ever foreign coach to be appointed England’s manager and notably took charge of England’s ‘Golden Generation’, leading the Three Lions at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups and at Euro 2004.

During his distinguished career, he also won several domestic honours as a manager, including the Serie A with Lazio and also won the Portuguese first division three times with Benfica.

The Swede also went on to win several domestic honours during his managerial career, including the Serie A with Lazio

The 76-year-old was the first-ever foreign coach to be appointed England’s head coach and notably took charge of England 

In the documentary, images and video clips were shown from his career in football, along with a clip of him managing the Liverpool Legends team in April.

The 76-year-old had previously stated it was his lifelong dream to manage the Merseyside club at Anfield and was invited to coach the Legends side as they took on an Ajax Legends team earlier this year.

The former manager also delivered a message to fans around the world during the film.

‘I hope you will remember me as a positive guy trying to do everything he could do,’ Eriksson said.

‘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.’

‘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.’

Runebjer also added that Eriksson has been spending time with his family, reading books and has also been watching the Euros and the Olympic Games.

Eriksson, speaking with Wayne Rooney (right) has also been watching plenty of football, including the Euros, according to his friend Anders Runebjer

The Amazon Prime documentary titled ‘Sven’ was released earlier this month with Eriksson reflecting on his life in football

Eriksson recently was invited to manage Liverpool Legends during their game against Ajax Legends at Anfield

‘Now and then I go but I’m not pestering him by going there every day,’ Runebjer told The Mirror.

‘He needs to have his time with his family but I am in touch with the family as well.

‘His special interest now is history books. And he watches football of course. He watched the Euros and the Olympic Games.

‘I know one day he watched five matches in the Euros. Five in one day! He likes music too. He likes all kinds, especially classical. And yes, of course, he likes ABBA. Everybody here does.’