'Not a decent person': Ulrika Jonsson breaks silence on Sven-Göran Eriksson’s terminal cancer diagnosis
12 January 2024, 09:46
Ulrika Jonsson took to social media to make a barbed remark about her former lover Sven-Goran Eriksson after he revealed he was dying of cancer.
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Former England manager Sven revealed this week that he had a year to live after being diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer.
TV presenter Ulrika, 56, posted on Instagram yesterday that she ‘did not have anything to say about Sven’ adding he is ‘not a decent person’. She deleted the post a short time later.
Her post read: “Look at me being all young all that. So PSA. I don’t have anything to say about Sven. Not a decent person.”
Italian lawyer Nancy Dell'Olio, who was in a relationship with Sven for 10 years, said: “I didn't think 2024 would open with more bad news. I knew that Sven was ill, but it hurts so much to hear this.
“It's a really negative moment. In September my mother died and I can't get over this loss. It's like having an open wound that instead of healing keeps getting worse. Sven's announcement was devastating.
'I knew he wasn't well, but hearing his words really. Life can be cruel.”
Sven, 75, described this week how his terminal cancer diagnosis makes him "appreciate every day" and he is happy just to wake up in the morning.
The ex-England boss has announced he believes he has just a year left to live.
He has said he believed he was completely healthy and was only diagnosed after having a "small" stroke, and after being taken to hospital he suffered five more small strokes.
But he has vowed to keep exercising and living his life as well as he can in the time he has left.
"I live a totally normal life," Eriksson told the BBC.
"I'm not in hospital, I go now and then for a visit but I live at home and I have friends here. Christmas and New Year, the whole family were here - a lot of people.
Read more: Former England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson, 75, reveals he has cancer and has ‘a year to live’
"I'm going out to try and exercise as much as possible, which is less than it was one year ago, but I have a normal life.
"When you get a message like that, you appreciate every day and you are happy when you wake up in the morning and you feel OK, so that's what I'm doing.
"I thought I was fully healthy but suddenly I had a small stroke so I fell and my children took me to the hospital.
"After one day of examination they told me I had five small strokes, but said 'no problem, you will recover 100% from that', but worse is they said I have cancer which they can't operate on.
"They said they will give me treatment and medicine to try and live as long as possible. I have that diagnosis and they can't operate, unfortunately."
The 75-year-old earlier revealed his diagnosis to a Swedish radio station, telling them he had "at best" another year to live.
"Everyone understands that I have an illness that is not good," he told P1.
"Everyone guesses it's cancer and it is. But I have to fight as long as I can."
Eriksson added that he has "maybe at best a year, at worst a little less, or at best maybe even longer".
"You can't be absolutely sure. It is better not to think about it.
"But you can trick your brain. See the positive in things, don't wallow in adversity, because this is the biggest adversity of course, but make something good out of it."
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After spells with Lazio and Roma, Eriksson was appointed England manager in 2001. He managed the national team for five years, leaving after the 2006 World Cup.
He oversaw what was viewed as a "golden generation" for the national team, as big-name players like David Beckham, Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney emerged.
Among his crowning achievements was the 5-1 defeat of Germany in Munich in 2001, something long commemorated by England fans.
But he was unable to coach his talented team past the quarter finals of tournaments in successive international tournaments.
He went on to manage again at clubs in England, with spells at Manchester City and Leicester City.
Last year, Eriksson stepped down from his role as sporting director at Karlstad Fotball due to health concerns.
"I have chosen to limit my public assignments for the time being, due to health problems which are under investigation," he said at the time.
