I’ll fight as long as I can. I won’t wallow in adversity. I appreciate every day
I’m trying to exercise as much as possible but it is less than a year ago
I was fully healthy but suddenly I had a small stroke so I fell and my children took me to the hospital.
“After one day of examination they told me I had five small strokes but said ‘no problem, you will recover 100% from that’. But worse is they said I have cancer which they can’t operate on.
“They said they will give me treatment and medicine to try and live as long as possible. I have that diagnosis
and they can’t operate, unfortunately.”
Eriksson, who has two children, Johan and Lina, by former wife Annchristine Pettersson, added: “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. I’m not in any major pain.
“But I’ve been diagnosed with a disease that you can slow down but you cannot operate. So it is what it is.”
In 2006 in Germany, England exited their third major tournament under Eriksson in the quarter finals. Along with criticism of his management, he was also under fire for letting the players’ partners stay nearby and “distract” the squad.
But it was unassuming Eriksson’s surprisingly colourful love life that fascinated the wider public.
He revealed in his 2013 autobiography how he once slept with a married woman on her sofa.
The tale was cut from the final draft but publishers in Norway released the uncensored version.
He recalled: “We soon found ourselves naked on the sofa. She had not said anything about having a husband but suddenly the door opened and there was a big man who said: ‘Who the hell are you?’ I said: ‘I better leave,’ and he replied: ‘I think it’s probably for the best’.” In 1998, he began a torrid relationship with firebrand Nancy, who moved to London after he got the England job.
He had an affair with fellow Swede Ulrika in 2002. He returned to Nancy after that but then had another fling in 2004 with Bangladeshi-born Faria.
She, in turn, had earlier had a sixmonth relationship with FA chief Mark Palios, which sparked a crisis.
Eriksson, who also managed Leicester City, Roma, Benfica, Lazio, won 13 titles in a glittering career.