Sven-Goran Eriksson, former national team manager of England, Mexico, the Philippines, Ivory Coast, as well as Manchester City, and Leicester City, passed away on the 26th of August, aged 76, after a long battle with pancreatic cancer, with countless tributes since paid to him, having coached in ten countries: Sweden, Portugal, Italy, England, Mexico, Ivory Coast, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, China and the Philippines.
In his final column for The Telegraph published with his family’s permission before his funeral, Sven-Goran Eriksson leaves us with a powerful message.
In the final lines of the write up, he says “My message to everyone would be: don’t give up. Never give up.” He reiterates this mantra: “Do not give up—is my message for life.” And in a beautiful parting thought, he reminds the readers to appreciate the journey: he says, “And please don’t forget this: life is always, always to be celebrated.”
If you read through the whole column, you would realize that these words are a testament to the resilience that defined Eriksson’s life and career, especially how he transitioned from an average player (his exact words 😁) to become one of the most successful football managers at club level.
However, what defined Eriksson’s life was not just the successes, but the failures and disappointments, especially not winning any trophy or getting past the quarter-final stage as England manager, and his sack as the coach of Manchester City, despite feeling he had done enough to stay on the job.
According to him, he faced his battle with terminal cancer with courage and characteristic positivity. Despite being given a devastating diagnosis, He said he continued to live every day with purpose and joy. Through it all, he remained true to his mantra: never give up, and always celebrate life.
If you are reading this now and are on the verge of giving up, please stay a little while. If you have faced all the trials life has thrown at you before now and are still standing, why do you think you cannot surmount the one before you now? I know a lot of us are facing a financial crisis – yes, I know – but it’s only for a while, as long as you are not lazy and continue to strive.
You may even be suffering from a terminal illness or any other difficult situation; just hold on. For every day you wake up to see the light of day, it brings with it a new hope that, if you do not give up, all will be well with you.
And remember, as Sven-Goran Eriksson so eloquently put it: “My message to everyone would be: don’t give up. Never give up. Do not give up, is my message for life. And please don’t forget this: life is always, always to be celebrated.”
As I always say, “It’s too late to give up.”
Perez ✍️
Perez is a Political Science lecturer