New Sven-Goran Eriksson memorial statue will allow fans to sit with him

FANS will be able to sit on a football bench next to the memorial statue of as though they are at a match with him - and even take a selfie. A bronze model of the legendary soccer manager who lost his battle against cancer in the summer is scheduled to be unveiled on December 1 which will be the first Sunday of Advent. It will depict Svennis in his 40s-50s and he will be sat on a bench with one arm in the air as though he is at one of his games and signalling to the players.

Visitors who come to see the special tribute to him in his hometown of Torsby in Sweden can sit next to him and even have their photo taken with him. Project manager Andre Liljemark, who has helped oversee the statue, said: "Svennis will sit on a bench. He is seated so that you can sit next to him. It will be good – without a doubt.

“The plan is for it to be inaugurated on 1 December - during the first Advent. That is our hope but there are things that are out of our control, including the casting process.” The statue – which has cost £40,000 and has been paid for by sponsorships from local businesses - has been created by artist Hanna Beling. She is keeping her tribute to the football chief under wraps until the official unveiling. But she has Sven’s approval.

The pair met several months before his death in August aged 76 to discuss the statue and agreed on how he should look, from which era he should be depicted and how he should also sit on a bench.

She explained: “He is sitting down, slightly leaning forward, and is holding up one arm. “It should look as if he is on the bench participating in a match. It was his idea. He wanted to be seated.” The area where the tribute will be placed has been prepared in readiness for the ceremony. A statue of a bear which was on the site has now been removed to make way for Svennis. Those who helped at Sven’s funeral, which took place last month, admit it was the biggest send-off they had ever seen with more than 600 people attending.

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Many famous faces from the of sport attended the farewell including former England star , ex England manager Roy Hodgson and also Sven’s ex-girlfriend Nancy Dell’Olio. Pastor Johan Bonander who was the coordinator of the funeral said: “I am grateful and happy that it went according to plan.

“Every little detail actually went, as it was supposed to. It was meticulous work before.
“There are many people to thank but it was a lot of fun to collaborate with everyone. All those involved had good intentions and everything turned out well."

Municipal councilor Peter Jonsson added: “Sven was so loved that all these prominent guests came to Torsby to pay tribute to his life and his work.

“It felt very big but it was such a nice funeral. It was a very dignified and bright funeral. How many coaches get a tribute like that when they pass away? I don't think there are that many.

"Everything Svennis did meant a great deal to Torsby. He always mentioned Torsby whenever he talked about his life.”

During a five-year spell in charge, Sven led England to quarter-final appearances at the World Cup in 2002 and 2006 as well as Euro 2004. He died on August 26 after suffering from pancreatic cancer.

Sven himself delivered his own poignant goodbye message in his Prime Video film.

Sven said: "I had a good life. I think we are all scared of the day when we die, but life is about death as well. You have to learn to accept it for what it is.

"Hopefully at the end people will say yeah he was a good man, but everyone will not say that.

"I hope you will remember me as a positive guy trying to do everything he could do.

"Don't be sorry, smile. Thank you for everything, coaches, players, the crowds, it's been fantastic. Take care of yourself and take care of your life. And live it. Bye."

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