We laughed, we cried ..and we knew we were saying goodbye

FACING his final moments with the calmness and dignity he lived his life by, Sven-Goran Eriksson told how he wanted to be remembered simply as a good man.

- ANDY LINES

And after the England team's first foreign manager lost his battle with pancreatic cancer, the tributes paid to him last night show one of football's true gentlemen will get his dying wish.

The 76-year-old Swede's children, Johan and Lina, told how he even got to hear some of the many glowing testimonies to him before he passed away yesterday, surrounded by his family.

Former England captain David Beckham led the tributes to Sven, who delivered an emotional farewell in a TV documentary last Friday when he urged people to live life to the full and said of his own end: "Don't be sorry, smile."

Becks, 49, who met his old boss for a final time earlier this year, posted pictures of the pair together and said: "We laughed, we cried and we knew we were saying goodbye.

"Sven, thank you for always being the person you have always been, passionate, caring, calm and a true gentleman.

"I will be forever grateful for you making me your captain but I will forever hold these last memories of this day with you and your family.

"Thank you Sven and in your last words to me, 'It will be OK."

Lina and Johan told how their dad was touched by the tributes being paid to him as he entered his final days.

They revealed Sven said: "I get to hear it while I'm alive and I'm incredibly grateful for that.

"The heart beats twice and the tears come. I have had the best job in the world and I was happy every day for long periods. It's been fantastic."

The pair added in a statement: "Dad told us at the beginning of the year about his serious illness and received an amazing response from friends and football fans around Europe. He was invited to several teams in England, Italy and Sweden.

"They shared their love for football and for Dad. It was unforgettable both for him and us.

"He expressed his appreciation and joy and stated that such beautiful words are usually only uttered when someone has died.