June 24th 2024.
David Beckham, the former captain of the England national team, recently paid a heartwarming visit to his former boss Sven-Göran Eriksson's farm in Sweden. Eriksson, who managed the national team from 2001 to 2006, had publicly announced his terminal cancer diagnosis last year, with doctors giving him only a year to live. During his time as manager, Eriksson had appointed Beckham as captain for his first match against Spain at Villa Park.
In an interview with Radio Sweden's P4 Varmland, the 76-year-old shared details of Beckham's visit, which was filled with meaningful gestures and quality time together. The former England midfielder had brought along six bottles of wine, each representing important milestones in Eriksson's life. "He had wine from 1948, the year I was born. It was very thoughtful of him. He could have acted like a diva, but he is the complete opposite," Eriksson recalled.
The bottles also included wines from 1982 and 2000, the years when Beckham won the UEFA Cup with IFK Goteborg and Serie A with Lazio. During his visit, Beckham also fulfilled one of Eriksson's biggest dreams by cooking traditional Swedish dishes such as herring and potatoes, as well as elk meat. "He even sent a chef the day before to prepare the food. We spent the day chatting, mostly about football. It just goes to show how great of a person he is. He didn't have to come, but I felt so proud that he did," Eriksson added.
Throughout his successful career as a manager, Eriksson won three league titles with Benfica, as well as the Coppa Italia with both Roma and Sampdoria. During his time as England manager, the team reached the quarter-finals at the 2002 World Cup before losing to eventual winners Brazil. They also faced defeats at Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup, both against Portugal.
Eriksson's last managerial stint came after his cancer diagnosis, when he had the privilege of managing the Liverpool legends team at Anfield against Ajax. Despite his illness, he was able to fulfill his lifelong dream thanks to the support of his former players, including Beckham. The bond between the two remains strong, and Beckham's visit to his farm was a testament to their friendship and mutual respect.
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