Sven-Goran Eriksson sadly passed away on August 26 2024 after a battle against pancreatic cancer. Before he passed, the documentary Sven on Prime Video gave us an insight into the colourful life of legendary football manager from his achievements with the England team to his well-publicised affair with Ulrika Jonsson and his terminal cancer diagnosis. It also includes insight from legends such as David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, Roberto Mancini and Kasper Schmeichel, plus comment from his former partner Nancy Dell'Olio and Faria Alam, with whom he had an affair.
"People interested in sports will likely know me and my career already, but the documentary also tells the truth — which hasn't always been portrayed in the tabloids," Sven had revealed during filming. "It takes time to make a documentary but it has been a very exciting and fun process. The documentary tells the truth of what happened during my career."
Here’s everything you need to know about the Prime Video documentary Sven...
Sven release date
Sven will air on Prime Video in the UK and Europe on Friday August 23 2024. If we hear where US viewers can catch it, we’ll update this page.
Is there a trailer?
Yes, and you can watch the Sven trailer below. It shows the likes of David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and Roberto Mancini talking about what makes Sven special, as well as the Swede looking back at his life as he faces his death from cancer. "I had a good life, maybe too good,” he says. “You have to pay for it. It’s cancer I have and that’s it but don’t be sorry. Smile and remember the good times. It’s sad but it’s beautiful."
What happens in Sven?
In 2001 Swedish coach Sven-Goran Eriksson took over from Kevin Keegan as England manager and his laid-back confidence made England fans believe in the national team again. He took England to two World Cup quarter-finals, in 2002 and 2006, and managed the side for five years. But during that time, the seemingly boring man hit the headlines for his scandalous love life as he was caught having affairs with Ulrika Jonsson and Faria Alam. This documentary is a no-holds-barred look at Sven’s life on and off the pitch. Among the footballers featured are David Beckham and Wayne Rooney plus manager Roberto Mancini.
Documentary-maker Clauida Corbishero, who attended a recent Prime Video, lauch event says: "I think these kind of projects really do depend on the kind of trust and relationship you can build. With the people involved, we were hugely lucky that Sven and his lovely family were so open with us. And obviously it takes time to build trust, but once that was there, we were really welcomed in. And it meant that we got to capture some pretty special family moments, which were obviously, you know, in the context of what was going on for the Erickson family. I think they're some of the strongest scenes in the film. We see Sven's openness and honesty about what he's been facing. His openness about his own life, and, you know his many adventures, and you know the very wild ride that he went on. I think that's something that's really special about Sven, is he's willing to tackle those kind of subjects head on."
Sven's daughter Lina Eriksson says: "The beginning of Dad's career was winning, winning, winning, up, up, up, up. And then it kind of turned I suppose, and then he had to accept more challenging jobs. "This film is a beautiful thing to have once Dad passes away as a memory, you know, for us as a family, but also for the world to see. And it's such a special thing that most people never get to experience. And you know, all the trips that he has done to all of the football clubs, most people will never get to experience all of the you know, the love and the the support that he has been shown whilst you are still alive. Most people will never witness that. No, they don't witness that because that comes at a funeral, but here he's actually got to witness it and to see all of the incredible things and all of the amazing support, and that's something that's invaluable. And he has lived a long time because of that, that has given him a lot of strength and energy to carry on."
Sven's son Johan Eriksson adds: "Dad has never really been the person to shy away from a challenge. He's always managed to see the positives and everything. And I think that's something that that Lina and I also have have taken on. So, yeah, just just the ability to be positive and to be brave enough to take a big challenge."
All about Sven Goran-Eriksson
Born in 1948, Sven had a brief footballing career in his native Sweden before beginning his managerial career at Degerfors IF. After stints with Benfica, Roma, Fiorentina, Sampdoria and Lazio, he took over the England national team in 2001 as the team’s first ever foreign coach. In 2002 and 2006 he took England to the quarter finals of the World Cup and oversaw a thrilling 5-1 victory over Germany. He then went on to manage Manchester City, Mexico’s national team, Ivory Coast, Notts County and Leicester City. He later moved to the Chinese Super League and managed the Philippines. In January this year, Eriksson announced he’d been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had around a year to live. He passed away on August 26 2024 in Sweden.
More about Prime Video's Sven
Sven is produced by Whisper and Up&Away Film Entertainment and directed by Claudia Corbisiero (Bobby Robson: More than a Manager). The documentary is produced by Chris Grubb (Ben Stokes: Phoenix from the Ashes) and Drew Masters (14 Peaks, Nothing is Impossible) and executive produced by James Quinn for Up&Away, and Sunil Patel and Mark Cole for Whisper.
