David Beckham has shared an emotional tribute to his former England manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson, following the announcement of Eriksson’s passing at age 76.

The heartfelt Instagram post features a touching video of Beckham and Eriksson walking and talking, capturing what Beckham knew would be their final meeting.

The tribute comes in the wake of Eriksson‘s death, which occurred earlier on Monday after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

In his post, Beckham reflected on the significance of their last encounter: “We laughed, we cried & we knew we were saying goodbye ‘Sven thank you for always being the person you have always been, passionate, caring, calm & a true gentleman.

“I will be forever grateful for you making me your captain but I will forever hold these last memories of this day with you and your family.

“Thank you Sven and in your last words to me: ‘It will be ok’.”

The video, while undated, likely captures a visit Beckham made to Eriksson earlier this year.

In June, Eriksson revealed that Beckham had traveled to his farm in Sunne, Sweden, bringing along a personal chef and a selection of wines tied to key moments in Eriksson‘s career.

Eriksson was moved by the gesture, noting, “He is genuine, he could have been a big diva, but he is quite the opposite.”

Eriksson’s Impact on English Football

Sven-Goran Eriksson, who became the first foreign manager of the England national team in 2001, left an indelible mark on the sport.

Under his leadership, England became a more tactically refined team, with stars like Beckham, Steven Gerrard, and Wayne Rooney reaching new heights.

Eriksson guided England to several memorable victories, including a 5-1 win over Germany in 2001 and a dramatic draw against Greece that secured World Cup qualification.

Despite not winning a major trophy with England, Eriksson‘s calm demeanor and strategic approach earned him widespread respect.

Even in the face of his terminal diagnosis, Eriksson remained optimistic and continued to pursue his passions, including fulfilling a lifelong dream of managing Liverpool Legends in a victory over Ajax Legends at Anfield in March 2023.

Following Eriksson‘s passing, his children, Lina and Johan, released a statement expressing their appreciation for the support their father received during his illness.

They shared how Eriksson was deeply touched by the love and admiration he received from friends, football fans, and former colleagues across Europe.

“Dad told us at the beginning of this year about his serious illness and received an amazing response,” they said.

The statement also included Eriksson‘s own reflections: “I get to hear it while I’m alive and I’m incredibly grateful for that. The heart beats twice and the tears come. I have had the best job in the world and I was happy every day for long periods. It’s been fantastic.”