“At best I have a year to live ” – Former England and Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson speaks on his battle with cancer

Former England and Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has announced that he has terminal cancer. 

The 75-year-old, who coached the English national team from 2001 to 2006 and spent the 2007-08 season with Manchester City, shared the devastating news on Swedish radio.

He also revealed that doctors had told him he has a year left to live ‘at best’. Eriksson won the hearts of England fans when his side defeated rivals Germany 5-1 in Munich in September 2001.

He went on to lead the team at the World Cup in 2002 and 2006 and Euro 2004, reaching the quarter finals in all three tournaments.

Eriksson told Sweden’s P1 radio station that his cancer diagnosis was made last year after he collapsed while out on a run.

He said: “Everyone understands that I have an illness that is not good. Everyone guesses it’s cancer and it is. But I have to fight as long as I can.”

When asked what the prognosis is, he replied: “Maybe at best a year, at worst a little less, or at best maybe even longer. You can’t be absolutely sure. It is better not to think about it”.

Speculation about his health grew after he resigned from his post as sporting director of Karlstad in his home country. The full diagnosis was made after he suddenly collapsed while out on a 5km run, with doctors also finding he had suffered a stroke.

He added: “It is not good. Everyone guessed it’s cancer and it is. But I have to fight as long as I can. But you can trick your brain. See the positive in things, don’t wallow in adversity, because this is the biggest adversity of course, but make something good out of it. They don’t know how long I had cancer, maybe a month or a year.”

Eriksson enjoyed a glittering managerial career, having also coaches the likes of Roma, Benfica, Lazio and Mexico. He would win more than 13 major titles, including three Primeira Ligas with Benfica and Serie A twice with Lazio.

Eriksson joined City on a three-year deal in July 2007, as the club’s first manager from overseas and the first Swede to manage in the Premier League. After a strong start to the season, Eriksson was named Premier League Manager of the Month for August following a run of games which included a 1-0 win over Manchester United.