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SVEN-Goran Eriksson’s ex-partners Ulrika Jonsson and Nancy Dell’Olio have broken their silence following the shocking news of his cancer diagnosis.
The former England boss, 75, bravely revealed he has “at best a year” to live after he was diagnosed with terminal pancreas cancer.
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instagramThe ex-Three Lions chief said he suffered a stroke while going on a 5km run near his home last year and was later diagnosed with incurable cancer.
After Sven broke the devastating news of his diagnosis, his ex-Jonsson took it to Instagram and insisted she “doesn’t have anything to say” – in a post that has since been deleted.
Posting a throwback photo of herself on her story, she wrote in the caption: “Look at me being all young all that. So. PSA. I don’t have anything to say about Sven. #nada. Not a decent person”.
Fellow Swede Ulrika became romantically involved with Sven in 2002 when he was in a relationship with Italian lawyer Nancy Dell’Olio.
Sven and Nancy, 62, were later reunited, but following a fling with Football Association secretary Faria Alam, 57, they split in 2007.
Meanwhile, Nancy described Sven’s diagnosis as “devastating” adding that she knew he was ill but “had no idea” of his condition.
The lawyer, who had a ten-year relationship with Sven, told the Mail Online: “I didn’t think 2024 would open with more bad news. I knew that Sven was ill, but it hurts so much to hear this.
“It’s a really negative moment. In September my mother died and I can’t get over this loss.
“It’s like having an open wound that instead of healing keeps getting worse. Sven’s announcement was devastating.
“I knew he wasn’t well, but hearing his words really. Life can be cruel.”
Sven has kept his terminal cancer diagnosis secret for a year before breaking the news to Swedish media on Thursday.
He told local radio P1: “Everyone understands that I have an illness that is not good.
“Everyone guesses it’s cancer and it is. But I have to fight as long as I can.”
“You can’t be absolutely sure. It is better not to think about it.
“But 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.”
Eriksson stepped down as sporting director at Karlstad Fotboll last year amid serious concerns about his health.
Sven is said to have collapsed the day after a jog near his home before medical tests revealed he had suffered a stroke – and that he had cancer.
Speaking to BBC Sport he said: “I thought I was fully healthy, but suddenly I had a stroke, small stroke, so I fell.
“My children took me to the hospital and after one day of examination, they told me I had five small strokes, but that’s okay, they said, no problem, you recovered 100 per cent from that.
“But the worse thing, they said, is that you have cancer.”
Wayne Rooney – who Eriksson handed his international debut aged 17 in 2003 – has urged his former boss to “keep fighting”.
The ex-Man Utd ace said: “Sad news this morning. Thoughts are with Sven Goran-Eriksson and his family.
“A brilliant coach and a special person. Loved and respected by everyone.
“We’re all with you Sven, keep fighting.”
Meanwhile, a social media post from the England football team read: “Sending our love, Sven.”
And a message from Manchester City on X said: “Everyone at Manchester City is thinking of Sven-Göran Eriksson, and we wish to express our collective support to our former Manager, and his family and friends, during this time.”
Eriksson was in charge of the Three Lions’ Golden Generation, between 2001 and 2006.
He took England to the quarter-finals in two World Cups and a European Championship.
What is pancreatic cancer?
PANCREATIC cancer is the tenth most common type of cancer in the UK and the fifth most common cause of cancer death, according to CRUK.
The disease affects a large gland that is part of the digestive system – the pancreas is located behind the stomach and under the liver.
It has two main functions: dripping digestive enzymes into the gut to help break down food, and releasing the hormones insulin and glucagon to regulate blood sugar.
Pancreatic cancer occurs when malignant – cancerous – cells form in the tissues of the pancreas.
Five signs of the disease that could be mistaken for another condition, or niggle, include persistent stomach ache, backache, indigestion, unexplained weight loss and bowel habit changes.
Other symptoms that might be more obvious include jaundice, difficulty swallowing and vomiting.
Patients may also suffer the symptoms of diabetes because pancreatic disease stops the production of insulin.
The causes of the disease are not exactly known but there are several risk factors that can make someone more likely to get the disease.
Sven pictured with Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard during training in 2006Getty Images - Getty
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