Sven-Goran Eriksson reflected openly on his status as an unlikely lothario in the weeks before his death at the age of 76.
The former England manager, who had been terminally ill with pancreatic cancer, admitted he was ‘stupid’ to have cheated on Nancy Dell’Olio with Ulrika Jonsson and Faria Alam but insisted sex should be celebrated and he ‘didn’t do anything criminal’.
The Swede made headlines around the world for his love life while managing England’s golden generation between 2001 and 2006.
Speaking on a Amazon Prime documentary about his life, called ‘Sven’, he spoke candidly about his affairs. But he insisted that ‘sex is one of the good things in life for all of us’, he wasn’t married and didn’t break any hearts.
Football Association patron Prince William was among those paying tribute to Sven today, describing him as a ‘true gentleman of the game’ who displayed impressive ‘charisma and passion’.
Former manager of England national football team Sven-Goran ‘Svennis’ Eriksson is honoured for his efforts at local club Degerfors in June. His death was announced today
Nancy Dell’Olio (left) and Ulrika Jonsson
Faria Alam, who was Sven’s secretary when they had an affair, says she was in love with him
In the documentary, Sven conceded that his reputation was hurt by his affairs, but he didn’t feel he did anything terrible.
Talking about when his fling with Ulrika emerged, he said: ‘Sex is one of the good things in life for all of us. She was not married. I was not married.
‘Probably I was stupid but I think I didn’t do anything criminal. I didn’t really disturb anyone.’
Nancy wanted to leave him – but changed her mind.
Sven said: ‘She loved it. The tension. She was a lady from the upper classes in Rome. She liked to go out with important people.
‘In the beginning I didn’t react very much. But you don’t change people at a certain age. It was not peace in my house always.’
Also appearing on the documentary, Nancy said she loved Sven.
She said: ‘The first impression that I had about Sven, people in power always have extra, extra sex appeal. I felt in love.
‘It wasn’t something that I was looking for. I was married and I left my husband to start my journey with Sven.
‘We were Sven and Nancy since the first date.
‘I was the first lady of English football and there was never going to be another one after me.’
Sven-Goran Eriksson with his girlfriend Yaniseth Bravo in Sweden
Between 2001 and 2006 he guided the so-called ‘golden generation’ of stars including David Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard
Rumours of Eriksson’s relationship with TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson emerged in 2002 and were later confirmed
Faria Alam had an affair with Sven and FA chief executive Mark Palios. She was forced to resign but gave a series of kiss and tell interviews.
Speaking to the documentary she said: ‘The Noughties were just that, they were naughty.
‘You could do so many things. I’ll be honest, I was a beautiful girl and I attracted a lot of attention.
‘He said, “Tell your story, go and tell them everything. Make some money, why not?”.’
Reports at the time suggested she may have made £300,000 from deals with newspapers.
Describing their relationship she said: ‘He didn’t have the mindset of a super-rich man. He talked to me about poetry, he talked to me about art.
‘He was saying how he did yoga and things like that.
‘And I just fell in love with him, I guess. And that lit the fuse for all this to explode’.
But she was angry at being painted as a ‘gold digger’ when the story broke, adding: ‘I’m the person that’s the bad person, and I was the scapegoat for them to be relieved of any responsibility’.
Eriksson returned to his long-term partner, the Italian lawyer Nancy Dell’Olio, who says she enjoyed being the ‘first lady of English football’
Eriksson’s affair with FA secretary Faria Alam was all over the papers during 2004. He lost his job months later
Sven became the first foreign manager of the England national team in 2001, taking charge of 67 matches until 2006. He led the talented squad to quarter-finals of the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, and at the 2004 European Championships.
He also managed Swedish, Portuguese and Italian clubs, winning major trophies in the 1980s and 1990s before taking on the England job.
Leading the tributes today was the Prince of Wales, who tweeted: ‘Sad to hear about the passing of Sven-Göran Eriksson. I met him several times as England manager and was always struck by his charisma and passion for the game.
‘My thoughts are with his family and friends. A true gentleman of the game. W.’
