Sven-Goran Eriksson funeral: David Beckham joins mourners as former England manager is remembered

Summary

Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has been remembered as loving father who enjoyed salsa dancing at his funeral in Sweden
David Beckham was among the mourners paying their respects in the Swedish town of Torsby
Eriksson, who died aged 76, was the first non-British manager of the England team between 2001 and 2006
He led the Three Lions to the quarter-finals of the 2002 and 2006 World Cup and 2004 Euros

Live Reporting

Edited by Matt Spivey

'You'll never walk alone' - a joyous final journey for Erikssonpublished at 12:20 British Summer Time 13 September
Thomas Copeland
Live reporter
Image source, PA Media
Football heavyweights, including former England captain David Beckham, travelled to rural Varmland County in Sweden to pay their respects to Sven-Goran Eriksson.
Inside the Fryksande church, the mourners heard renditions of Elton John's Candle in the Wind and Frank Sinatra's My Way - with the priest even performing a song herself.
The priest spoke of the family's fond memories of a "loving father" who was "quite proficient in salsa", capturing Eriksson's sense of fun.
In spite of his illness, Eriksson's last months were "full of life", the priest said.
The New Orleans' style funeral procession and brass band performances certainly fulfilled Eriksson's wish for his funeral to be a "joyous event".
The band played You'll Never Walk Alone, the anthem of his beloved Liverpool FC. As mourners followed Eriksson on one last journey, he certainly wasn't alone.
We're now ending our coverage, thank you for following along, you can read more about Eriksson's funeral here.
This page was edited by Matt Spivey and written by myself.
Eulogies read aloud as guests bid final farewellpublished at 11:50 British Summer Time 13 September
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
Mourners gathered on a wooden amphitheatre to hear tributes
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
David Beckham pays his final respects to the late England manager
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
Guests form a line by Eriksson's coffin to bid farewell
One of the best nights in England’s historypublished at 11:30 British Summer Time 13 September
Image source, PA Media
Every England fan - and probably a lot of Germany ones too - will be able to tell you where they were and what they were doing on the night of 1 September 2001.
Eriksson took England to Germany in a crucial qualifier for the 2002 World Cup. Germany had only ever lost one World Cup qualifier at home, and hadn’t lost in Munich since 1973.
Final score. Germany 1-5 England.
The game has gone into folklore as one of England’s most famous victories on foreign soil but Eriksson was keen to play it down at the time.
“We have a very good team, I always said that," Eriksson told Sky Sports in his post-match interview, “but I don’t think we are as good as the goals show”.
England qualified for the 2002 World Cup with a last-gasp David Beckham free kick to draw 2-2 against Greece at Old Trafford, making it to the quarter finals in Japan and South Korea.
Eulogies to Sven-Goran Eriksson beginpublished at 11:19 British Summer Time 13 September
The procession has reached Kollsbergs hembygdsgard, set next to the picturesque Lake Fryken, where close friends and family members are reading their eulogies to the late Sven-Goran Eriksson.
The lakeside museum situated in Torsby, Sweden, is about half a mile from Fryksande church where Sven-Goran's service took place this morning.
In a film released shortly before his death, Eriksson said that Torsby was a "beautiful place" that felt like "home".
'A distinctly average defender, but one who rarely made mistakes'published at 11:10 British Summer Time 13 September
Eriksson began his career at 16, playing as a right-back for a succession of lower-tier sides in his native Sweden.
In 1964, he joined Torsby IF, his hometown club, playing there for seven years before moving to the town of Amal to study economics and joining SK Sifhälla.
After a year, he moved again to KB Karlskoga, playing there for the 1972-73 season before ending his playing career aged 27.
Summing up his time as a player in his 2013 autobiography, Sven: My Story, he wrote: "I was looked upon as a distinctly average defender, but someone who rarely made mistakes"
Snapshot of a career in picturespublished at 11:00 British Summer Time 13 September
Image source, PA Media
Image caption,
Eriksson’s first game in charge of England was a 3-0 win over Spain in a friendly at Villa Park, Birmingham on 28 February 2001. The write-up from BBC Sport said Eriksson would be “delighted” after his “reign got off to the perfect start with an impressive victory”.
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Eriksson managed England to three major quarter finals, including the 2006 World Cup quarter final where they lost 3-1 on penalties to Portugal. It was his last game in charge of the national team.
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Following his diagnosis, Eriksson spent the year on emotional visits to some of his former clubs, including Lazio and Sampdoria.
Image source, PA Media
Image caption,
England and Finland players paid their respects to England’s former manager with a minute’s applause before their Nations League game earlier this week. It was England’s first home game since Eriksson’s death.
Funeral procession moving to scenic lakeside museumpublished at 10:50 British Summer Time 13 September
Image source, PA Media
Eriksson's funeral procession is now on its way to Kollsbergs hembygdsgard, a rural community museum about half a mile away from the Fryksande Church along a leafy residential road.
Ahead of the hearse there's a brass band, who earlier played a rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone as the procession assembled.
The collection of historic Scandinavian buildings at the museum look out onto Lake Fryken, and it is there that eulogies and tributes to Sven-Goran Eriksson will be heard.
'Absolutely beautiful' - a Liverpool dream fulfilledpublished at 10:33 British Summer Time 13 September
Eriksson was a lifelong Liverpool fan and said that it had been "absolutely beautiful" to fulfil his dream of managing the club - if only for a day last March.
On an emotionally-charged afternoon he helped lead a Liverpool Legends team which beat an Ajax Legends side 4-2 at Anfield.
"That will be a huge memory in life," said Eriksson, who received a standing ovation when he emerged from the tunnel just before the teams.
"Absolutely beautiful."
There was a rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone before kick-off and Eriksson was in the Reds' dugout along with a management team of former Liverpool greats Ian Rush, John Barnes and John Aldridge.
You can read more about that moving day here in our BBC Sports coverage.
Image source, Reuters
In pictures: Funeral for 'a loving father'published at 10:27 British Summer Time 13 September
Image source, EPA
Image caption,
(L-R) Sven-Goran Eriksson's 95-year-old father Sven, daughter Lina and son Johan
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
Pallbearers carry the coffin of Sven-Goran Eriksson out of the Fryksande church
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
Former England captain David Beckham leaving the church
Eriksson: An eclectic post-England careerpublished at 10:18 British Summer Time 13 September
Image source, PA Media
Image caption,
Eriksson pictured at the start of his time as manager of Leicester City
As his funeral service comes to a close, we've taken a look back at Eriksson's career after his post as England manager.
Eriksson moved to Manchester City, but was replaced after only one season after a ninth-place finish.
He then took charge of the Mexico team before brief spells as director of football at Notts County and as manager of the Ivory Coast.
Returning to England in 2010, he took over Leicester City - then playing in the Championship - before moving to China to manage clubs in Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Shenzhen.
His final coaching job - in the 2018-19 season - was with the Philippines' national team.
Reflecting back on his lengthy career, he thanked everyone he had worked with over the years and said: "It's been fantastic".
Funeral ends as guard of honour forms outsidepublished at 10:09 British Summer Time 13 September
Sven-Goran Eriksson's coffin is being carried out of Fryksande church as the funeral comes to a close.
The priest has just announced that Torsby's sports club are forming a guard of honour outside the church as the procession of mourners leave.
A procession will follow the coffin, led by the clergy and members of the Eriksson family, followed by invited guests.
The hearse will then slowly make its way to Kollsbergs rural community museum for eulogies and tributes.
Image source, EPA
'It feels like home' - Eriksson on burial in Swedish town of Torsbypublished at 10:05 British Summer Time 13 September
Sven-Goran Eriksson was raised in Torsby, situated about 297km (185 miles) west of Stockholm.
Torsby in Varmland County, is known for its natural beauty - rolling hills, deep forests, and around 10,000 lakes.
"A beautiful place, it makes you calm, it makes me calm," Eriksson said in a film shortly before his death.
"I always thought it'd be a great place to sleep. The ashes could be thrown into the water here. It feels like home," he said.
Family gather around Sven-Goran's coffinpublished at 10:00 British Summer Time 13 September
Eriksson's family and closest friends have made their way to the front of the church now and are paying their final respects beside his coffin.
His partner, Yaniseth Alcides, stands alongside fellow mourners as the service celebrates the life and career of Sven-Goran.
As they return to their seats, a singer begins a rendition of the Italian classic popularly known as Volare.
Candle in the Wind leads music as priest performs songpublished at 09:45 British Summer Time 13 September
One of the priests leading today's service has just sang for the congregation.
That was followed by a version of the Elton John classic, Candle in the Wind, most famously sung at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales.
After a prayer, the congregation rose again to sing the hymn How Great Thou Art in Swedish.
As the funeral approaches an end, we're listening to a duet rendition of the Frank Sinatra hit My Way.
Mourners gather outside churchpublished at 09:36 British Summer Time 13 September
Image source, PA Media
Image caption,
The funeral service is being displayed on a large screen outside the church
Image source, PA Media
Image caption,
Mourners have assembled on the lawn outside the Fryksande Church
Image source, PA Media
Image caption,
Many of those gathered outside have brought flowers and are holding orders of service
A loving father with a proficiency for salsa - Sven-Goran's family rememberspublished at 09:32 British Summer Time 13 September
Memories of Sven-Goran's character are being read out as the service continues, with reflections from his family.
The priest says that the family home was "finer than any 5 star hotel" and was a place where Sven-Goran found rest between his travels around the world.
He never caused problems, the priest says, but "wearing suits as a teenager" was not always easy.
A "Do No Disturb - Homework In Progress" sign often hung from his childhood bedroom, so the family never went in.
Inside, no homework was being done - Sven-Goran was lying on his bed reading detective novels. He was a loving father, the priest says, but "useless to go shopping with".
Useless also at dancing, we're told, but did become "quite proficient" at the salsa.
'In spite of illness he was full of life'published at 09:24 British Summer Time 13 September
We're now hearing a tribute to Eriksson's life, and in particular his last few months.
The priest said: "In spite of his illness, Sven-Goran's last few months were full of life. He received many tributes to him from many people around the world.
"We all remember when hand in hand with his granddaughter Sky at the stadium in Liverpool."
Mourners join together in songpublished at 09:17 British Summer Time 13 September
As Sven's coffin lays surrounded by flowers, the congregation rose to their feet to sing a rendition of the hymn Amazing Grace.
Proceedings are now continuing, moving back and forth between Swedish and English, reflecting Sven's internationally renowned career.
We can also bring you a look at the order of service for today's service, with the Lord's Prayer printed on the back cover in both languages.
Image source, PA Media
'Don't be sorry, smile' - Eriksson's philosophypublished at 09:03 British Summer Time 13 September
In a film released shortly before he died, Eriksson says he had enjoyed a "good life", telling viewers, "don't be sorry, smile", before saying "thank you for everything - coaches, players, the crowds. It’s been fantastic".
He says that he hopes to be remembered as a "positive guy, trying to do everything he could do".
That is a sentiment echoed by many of the players he worked with at club and international level.
You can read more here about what he has to say in that film.
Image source, EPA
Eriksson’s funeral service beginspublished at 08:57 British Summer Time 13 September
The funeral service for Sven-Goran Erikkson has just started.
The service is being delivered in both Swedish and English as silence has fallen over the congregation.