Sven-Goran Eriksson decides where ashes will be scattered and says ‘it feels like home'

Sven-Goran Eriksson’s ashes are set to be scattered in a touching location that “feels like home”. Earlier this year, it was revealed that the former England and Manchester City manager had at best a year to live after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, sparking an outpouring of support from the football community.

Eriksson’s vibrant career, which also saw him at the helm of Benfica, Lazio and Leicester City, is the focus of an upcoming Prime Video documentary. In the film, the 76-year-old speaks openly about his cancer diagnosis and his plans for his passing, including where he wishes his ashes to be scattered.

Eriksson has chosen a special spot by Lake Fryken near his birthplace in Sunne and where he spent his childhood in Torsby, western Sweden. As part of the documentary, Eriksson visits the site with family members and shares why the area holds such significance for him.

“A beautiful place, [it] makes you calm, makes me calm,” he said. Pointing across the lake, he added: “Below the mountain [is] where my father grew up. If you look straight on, that’s Torsby, where I grew up.

“I always thought great place, to sleep. The ashes could be thrown into the water here. It feels like home.”

Eriksson, who led England for five years before stepping down after the 2006 World Cup, left his latest position as sporting director at Swedish club Karlstad last year due to health problems. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer by doctors and while there are treatments to slow its progression and manage symptoms, there is no cure.

Speaking to Swedish Radio P1 in January, he said: “Everyone can see that I have a disease that’s not good, and everyone supposes that it’s cancer, and it is.

“I don’t think the doctors I have can be totally sure, they can’t put a day on it. It’s better not to think about it. You have to trick your brain. I could go around thinking about that all the time and sit at home and be miserable and think I’m unlucky and so on.

“It’s easy to end up in that position. But no, see the positive sides of things and don’t bury yourself in setbacks, because this is the biggest setback of them all of course.”