David Beckham was among the attendees at the funeral of former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, held at Fryksande Church in Torsby, Sweden, on Friday morning.
Beckham, who captained England during Eriksson’s tenure from 2001 to 2006, was joined by other members of the squad from that era, including players who reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup.
Eriksson’s coffin arrived at the church at approximately 7 a.m. local time, well before the arrival of the 600 expected guests. A single bell tolled as his body was carried into the church.
The roads surrounding the church were cordoned off, and a significant police presence was in place, reflecting the solemnity of the occasion.
Sweden’s royal family was also anticipated to attend the service. Early arrivals included Eriksson’s son, elderly father, and childhood friend Bengt Berg, who co-authored a book with Eriksson in the final months of his life.
Berg reflected on the emotional experience, saying, “I’m very happy and very sad at the same time. It’s fantastic to see him returning to his first point. It’s a very curious feeling. He’s one of us, and we share his glory, but when he returned here, he was just one of the hot dog eaters.”
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