He paid a touching tribute to his old boss
Following on from the death of former England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson today, David Beckham has revealed the last words the Swede said to him
The former manager who took charge of the England national team between 2001 and 2006 died at 76-years-old after a long battle with terminal pancreatic cancer.
Tributes have poured in for the extremely well-loved man who made a real impression during his tenure in England.
One of these tributes came from world-famous retired England footballer David Beckham who Sven made his captain when he joined England.
The former Manchester United forward took to Instagram today to share his condolences and he described his old boss as a “true gentleman”.
Upon hearing about Sven’s terminal illness Beckham went out to Sweden to go visit his former manager and they shared an evening together, which he mentioned in his post.
Beckham wrote: “We laughed, we cried & we knew we were saying goodbye… Sven thank you for always being the person you have always been, passionate, caring, calm & a true gentleman…
“I will be forever grateful for you making me your captain but I will forever hold these last memories of this day with you and your family…
He added: “Thank you Sven and in your last words to me: ‘It will be ok’.”
During his visit Beckham gifted Sven a bottle of wine from each important year of his life.
At the time Sven said: “He came with six litres of wine from dates that were important to me.
“He had wine from 1948 , the year I was born, very nice of him. He is genuine, he could have been a big diva, but he is quite the opposite.”
Beckham also had wine from 1982, the year Eriksson won the UEFA Cup with IFK Goteborg, and 2000, which was the season when he guided Lazio to the Serie A title.
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He added: “He ate herring and potatoes and elk meat.
“It confirms, in a way, how great he is. He didn’t have to come here. I felt proud that he came.”
Sven leaves a great footballing legacy, winning 18 trophies across his career and making a great impression wherever he went.
This morning a statement was released saying that he died with his family around him.
