Wayne Rooney has urged Sven-Goran Eriksson to keep fighting after the former England manager revealed he has terminal cancer.
Eriksson, 75, fears he has a year to live or at ‘worst a little less’ after the bombshell diagnosis last year.
‘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,’ he told Sweden’s P1 radio station.
Rooney led the tributes to Eriksson following the news.
‘Sad news this morning. Thoughts are with Sven Goran-Eriksson and his family,’ Rooney said.
‘A brilliant coach and a special person. Loved and respected by everyone.
‘We’re all with you Sven, keep fighting.’
Eriksson played an important role in Rooney’s career with the Swedish coach handing the striker his international debut at the age of 17 in 2003.
He later came to Rooney’s defence after his sending off in the World Cup quarter-finals against Portugal in 2006.
‘He is the golden boy of English football, so don’t kill him,’ Eriksson said after the match.
In a glittering managerial career Eriksson was boss of IFK Gothenburg, Benfica, Roma, Roma, Fiorentina, Sampdoria, Lazio, Manchester City and Leicester City.
He was also manager of Mexico, Ivory Coast and the Philippines.
But while in charge of England for five years he became the most famous football manager in the world.
Between 2001 and 2006 he guided the so-called ‘golden generation’ of stars including David Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard but never won the major trophy that was expected.
England’s social media accounts posted ‘Sending our love, Sven’ following Eriksson’s revelation of his diagnosis.
Man City, who were managed by Eriksson between 2007 and 2008, were among his former sides to send messages of support.
‘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,’ Man City posted.
‘We are all saddened to hear the news of former Leicester City Manager Sven-Göran Eriksson’s diagnosis. We are all with you, Sven,’ wrote Leicester City.
