Nancy Dell’Olio has paid tribute to her ex-husband Sven-Goran Eriksson, after his death aged 76.
The former England manager’s death was confirmed today, after he announced in January that he had been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer.
He said at the time that he had ‘at best a year to live’.
Following the news of his death, stars and fans have shared their memories of him and paid tribute, with Italian-American lawyer and media personality Nancy sharing a touching message on Instagram.
She wrote: ‘It is with a heavy heart that I share the passing of my ex-husband, Sven.
‘Though our relationship had its ups and downs, I choose to remember the good times we shared and the moments that brought joy to our lives.
‘I will always hold onto those cherished memories and extend my deepest condolences to his family, as well as his beloved children, Lina and Johan.
‘When you love someone, that love never truly fades. Rest in peace, Sven. You will be missed.’
Nancy met Swedish football icon Eriksson in 1998, though their relationship hit the rocks in early 2002 when it emerged he’d had a whirlwind romance with TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson.
The couple broke off their romance amid the intense scrutiny, but they eventually got back together.
However, Eriksson was later linked to another woman and Nancy ended things for good in August 2007.
In 2013, Sven-Goran released an autobiography in which he said he fell out of love with Nancy after a year.
Reacting to the comments, Nancy told Hello!: ‘Everyone is entitled to have an opinion, of course they are, but not to lie. For me it is a shame that I was with someone for nine years and yet I do not recognise this man at all.
‘I find it shocking how he talks about using women. Does he think that is something to be proud of? No real man would talk about women like that.’
Eriksson was the first foreign manager of the English national side, taking charge of 67 matches from 2001 to 2006.
He led England to the quarter-finals of three major tournaments in succession, including the World Cups of 2002 and 2006.
Eriksson’s life in the sporting spotlight drew as much attention as his love life.
After cheating on Nancy with Gladiators star Ulrika, Erikkson was at the centre of a sex scandal at the FA when it emerged he had an affair with FA secretary Faria Alam.
In his autobiography in 2013, Eriksson admitted there were other lovers, including a singer and former gymnast from Romania, and a Swede who worked for Scandinavian Airlines.
Speaking in 2007 following his sacking as England boss the year before, he said of the press scrutiny of his private life: ‘You have to live with it, but it is an extremely strange situation that I should be talked about or judged for what I did in my private life.
‘As long as I am not doing anything criminal – and I was not doing anything criminal – it is not anybody else’s business. I couldn’t understand it. I still don’t understand it and I will never accept it.’
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