2024-04-15 09:57:41
The game between Benfica and Marseille this Thursday was marked by a special and moving moment for all football fans, and not just for the “red”. Swedish coach Sven-Göran Eriksson, diagnosed with terminal cancer, was at Estádio da Luz where he was honored by Benfica, at halftime of the match.
Coach of the ‘reds’ on two occasions, from 1982/83 to 1983/84 and from 1989/90 to 1991/92, Sven-Göran Eriksson, now 76 years old, returned to Lisbon to take part in a special game, which he re-edits the semi-final round of the 1989/90 European Champions Cup – Benfica would reach the final, which they lost against AC Milan (1-0).
The tribute was attended by former players and members of his technical team, such as Toni, during the times he coached the club.
It was to a grand ovation from the thousands of Benfica fans present at Estádio da Luz that Eriksson appeared on the pitch with a ‘guard of honour’ made up of Benfica’s former ‘glories’ who met the coach and wore the shirts of that time.
Eriksson honored by Benfica © Credits: AFP
“A lot of emotions and crying. It’s beautiful. Thank you to all Benfica fans. Go strong, Benfica! Much luck for the future, to Rui Costa and all Benfica fans”, expressed Eriksson, before receiving a Cosme Damião award from the president of the Lisbon club.
Accompanying the Swede were Valdo, António Bastos Lopes, Carlos Pereira, Álvaro Magalhães, Alberto Bastos Lopes, Kenedy, Paulo Madeira, José Manuel Delgado, Pedro Valido, Dias Graça, Shéu, Rui Águas, João Alves, Paulo Padinha, Vítor Paneira , António Veloso, José Carlos, William, Filipovic, César Brito, Manniche, Diamantino, Humberto Coelho, Carlos Manuel, Toni, applauded one by one by the Benfica fans.
Speaking to Swedish radio P1 in January, Sven-Göran Eriksson said he had inoperable pancreatic cancer, discovered after a “sudden collapse” and that he learned that, “in the best case scenario”, he will have a year to live or “ maybe a little less.”
At the end of March, Eriksson had already been honored by Benfica during the gala celebrating the club’s 120th anniversary, expressing, through a video recorded message, his desire to see a Benfica match before the end of the season.
Eriksson began to stand out at Gothenburg, the team with which he won the UEFA Cup in 1982, moving to Benfica the following season, where he was once again in the final of the competition, which he lost against Belgians Anderlecht, over two legs. .
With the Eagles, the coach won three championships, a Portuguese Cup and a Super Cup, and was also a finalist in the 1989/90 European Champions Cup.
In his career, Eriksson also triumphed in Italy and Sweden, having won, at European level, a European Super Cup and a Cup Winners’ Cup, both with Italian side Lazio.
Benfica beats Marseille and takes the lead in the tie
The coach also commanded teams such as Roma, Fiorentina, Sampdoria, Manchester City, Notts County, Leicester, Guangzhou, Shanghai SIPG or Shenzhen, in addition to being selected for England, Mexico, Ivory Coast and the Philippines.
2024-04-15 09:57:41