Sven-Goran Eriksson’s ex Nancy Dell’Olio, 62, says she didn’t know he has at best a year to live after terminal cancer diagnosis and reveals plans to reunite with him
Sven-Goran Erikisson’s ex partner Nancy Dell’Olio has revealed she had no idea he has ‘at best a year to live‘.
The former England manager, 75, announced last week he has terminal pancreatic cancer after a secretly battling the inoperable cancer for a year.
Nancy, who dated Sven for 10 years, spoke about his devastating diagnosis on Loose Women on Thursday and revealed plans to see him for his birthday next month.
The Italian lawyer said she was feeling ‘very emotional’, as while she learned he had cancer a year ago, she had no idea of his life prognosis.
Nancy told the panel: ‘I learned a year ago. I knew it was serious. I was very pleased that he decided to go public because he received such support and I think he made the right decision.
The former England manager, 75, announced last week he has terminal pancreatic cancer after a secretly battling the inoperable cancer for a year
‘I was shocked when I learned he was seriously ill but I learned from the press that he only had a year. I didn’t know. I find it so difficult to cope with the idea you only have a year. It’s not 90 minutes yet. I do believe in miracles.’
Nancy – who left her husband Giancarlo Massa for the coach – was a constant by Sven’s side and pictured with him at several tournaments.
The couple met in 1997 when he was manager at Rome club Lazio and Nancy came to England with him when he was appointed in charge of the Three Lions and was with him for ten years.
The lawyer stuck with Sven despite his affairs with TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson and FA secretary Faria Alam. She went onto appear in Strictly and Celebrity Big Brother and Celebrity MasterChef.
The couple eventually split up in August 2007.
Nancy, who cut a glamorous figure with her bouncy blow-dry and red blazer on the show, said she was at an airport in New York when she first heard Sven had gone public with his diagnosis.
‘I was one of only 4 people that were allowed to know. He phoned from Italy, I signed the contract. I’m coming back tomorrow.’
Nancy described their relationship as ‘one of the two most important love stories in my life’ and will try and see Sven next month for his birthday, which is on February 5.
The couple met in 1997 when he was manager at Rome club Lazio. They split in 2007 (pictured in 2006)
‘I was shocked when I learned he was seriously ill but I learned from the press that he only had a year. I didn’t know. I find it so difficult to cope with the idea’, she said
Nancy, who cut a glamorous figure with her bouncy blow-dry and red blazer on the show, said she was at an airport in New York when she first heard Sven had gone public
In a glittering managerial career Sven was boss of IFK Gothenburg, Benfica, Roma, Roma, Fiorentina, Sampdoria, Lazio, Manchester City and Leicester City
The lawyer stuck with Sven despite his affairs with TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson (pictured) and FA secretary Faria Alam
‘The public was such a big part, we’re part of British history in a way. The past coming again into your present. It’s already been a hard time for me, losing my mother, so it’s a very emotional time for me.’
Last week, Sven revealed his prognosis and determination to fight ‘as long as possible’.
He said: ‘Everyone understands that I have an illness that is not good. Everyone guesses it’s cancer and it is. But I have to fight as long as I can’.
When asked what the prognosis is, he told Sweden’s P1 radio station 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’.
Sven collapsed after a 5km run last year and found out he was seriously ill.
After seeing his doctors, it turned out he had suffered a stroke and also had cancer.
He said: ‘They don’t know how long I had cancer, maybe a month or a year’.
‘It is not good. Everyone guessed it’s cancer and it is. But I have to fight as long as I can.
‘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’.
In a glittering managerial career Sven was boss of IFK Gothenburg, Benfica, Roma, Roma, Fiorentina, Sampdoria, Lazio, Manchester City and Leicester City.
He was also manager of Mexico, Ivory Coast and the Philippines.
But while in charge of England for five years he became the most famous football manager in the world.
Between 2001 and 2006 he guided the so-called ‘golden generation’ of stars including David Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard but never won the major trophy that was expected.
His tragic diagnosis came almost exactly 22 years after he resigned as Lazio manager earlier than expected to assume his coaching role with England.
The Swede had signed a five-year contract three months earlier to take over in the summer of 2001.
Eriksson said his Lazio side ‘were one of the best in the world’ and he was probably correct.
But ‘once in a lifetime’ chance to manage England and the £3million salary that came with it, proved too good to turn down.
She soon revitalised a long-failing England side. The team’s thumping 5-1 win over Germany offering great optimism and flipping the qualifying group for World Cup 2002, even if it took Beckham’s last-minute free-kick against Greece to avoid a tricky play-off with Ukraine.
