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7 months ago
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Sven-Goran Eriksson was moved to tears as Gothenburg fans raised a tifo in his honour and serenaded him on his return.
The ex-England manager visited his old club on Saturday after revealing that he has terminal pancreatic cancer in January and was given a hero's welcome.
Eriksson led Swedish club Gothenburg to a shock UEFA Cup in 1982, back when their players still had second jobs alongside their playing commitments.
After being led out to a chorus of cheers and clapping, the chanting began and he was visibly moved by the tributes to him. He was also presented with memorabilia.
Perhaps Gothenburg could have done with Eriksson in charge for the day - in the end they managed a 1-1 draw against Norrkoping.
Sven-Goran Eriksson was moved to tears as Gothenburg fans sang to him and raised a tifo in his honour
He was visiting the club who he led to an unexpected UEFA Cup back in 1982 while their players still had other jobs
Fans gave Eriksson a loving reception and paid tribute to the memories he has given them
He also visited former club Benfica earlier this month. Eriksson, 76, told in January of how he had had 'five small strokes' and feared that he is in the final year of his live.
He led England between 2001 and 2006, reaching the quarter-finals of the 2002 and 2006 World Cup and as well the last eight of Euro 2004.
He also managed Manchester City and Leicester in a storied managerial career which led him across 16 teams and three continents, gaining multiple domestic and European honours.
In March, he fulfilled his lifelong dream of managing Liverpool and hailed it a 'memory for life' as he coached a team of club legends.
Liverpool Legends beat a team of Ajax icons 4-2 that day under his tutelage and he managed the likes of Fernando Torres and Djibril Cisse.
He cried when they sang You'll Never Walk Alone, a testament to his love and admiration for the club.
Indeed, in 1979, while managing Gothenburg, he wrote to the Reds to ask if he could watch training sessions led by then-manager Bob Paisley.
Current boss Jurgen Klopp gave Eriksson a huge smile and a hug ahead of the match, calling him a 'legend,' while Steven Gerrard flew over from Saudi Arabia to be with him.
The former England boss revealed earlier this year that he has terminal pancreatic caner
Benfica fans gave him a doting reception when he went back there earlier this month
The 76-year-old managed a team of Liverpool Legends in March, fulfilling his dream of coaching the Reds
Former England players also composed video tributes to him for the recent international break.
Speaking about his terminal cancer in March, he said: 'You appreciate waking up in the morning and feeling well and normally you don't do that. You take it for granted.
‘In the beginning when you get the diagnosis coming from nowhere, it’s like a shock but after a while you learn to live with it.
Jurgen Klopp and Eriksson had a warm meeting before the game and he told the Liverpool boss: 'you're doing great'
The former England boss also enjoyed an emotional reunion with Steven Gerrard ahead of the charity game
‘Today I have a normal life and I am not thinking about what's going to happen tomorrow or the day after. Otherwise you sit down and think pity of yourself. No. Leave it.
‘I don’t talk about it very much. It is what it is. I can’t beat it, probably. Anyhow, life is beautiful.’
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