Sven-Goran Eriksson’s family ‘make six-figure sum from selling his memorabilia’ – including invitation from the QUEEN – to help settle late ex-England manager’s £8million debt
The family of Sven-Goran Eriksson, England’s first foreign manager, have been forced to auction off his memorabilia after being landed in £8million worth of debt upon his death, according to reports.
The Swede died last August aged 76 after suffering from pancreatic cancer, leaving assets worth £4.8m but a larger bill to the likes of HMRC to whom he owed a reported £7.25m.
Eriksson, who managed England between 2001 and 2006, previously described himself as being ‘stupid’ with his money.
As a consequence, The Sun are reporting that his loved ones have sold hundreds of mementoes — such as a lunch invitation from the late Queen.
Also up for auction was his Armani suit from a 2006 World Cup match with his hand-written team notes still in the pocket.
The 349 items reported to have gone under the hammer for a combined total of £140,000 also include his BBC Coach of the Year trophy in 2001 and a Premier League Manager of the Month award from his time as Manchester City boss.
Sven Goran Eriksson, who managed England between 2001 and 2006, died last August
Ex- England boss Sven Goran Eriksson with Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in 2002
A lunch invitation from the late Queen was among hundreds of items sold by the family
An Ivory Coast top signed with a special message by former forward Didier Drogba from Eriksson’s time as national coach in 2010 was sold as well.
The Swedish auction house told The Sun that there may be even more items put up for sale by the family in future.
‘There was huge interest mostly from England, Italy and Portugal,’ they said.
‘It was a reflection of the love and affection that people had for Sven in countries all over the world.
‘We are very pleased with how both auctions have gone and there may be a third one of items of his furniture.’
The luxury mansion in Björkefors Manor, on the banks of Lake Fryken where Eriksson lived out his days with his partner Yaniseth Alcides, his partner of more than 15 years, went up for sale shortly after his death.
An Ivory Coast shirt, signed by former striker Didier Drogba, also went up under the hammer
A suit from the 2006 World Cup, with his hand-written notes still in the pocket, was also sold
The late Swede’s BBC Coach of the Year trophy from 2001 was another item in the auction
Eriksson was estimated to have received around £7m in pay-offs alone from England, Manchester City and Mexico.
In one of his last ever interviews, he told The Guardian: ‘I was never interested in money — I never took care of it and trusted people to do that for me. I was stupid not to control where the money went. I realised that when I didn’t have any more cash!
‘I still don’t know what I have in the bank.’
