Sven-Goran Eriksson's ex breaks down on live TV as she recalls recent conversation with late football icon
Nancy Dell'Olio broke down in tears as she talked about her late ex, Sven-Goran Eriksson
ITV/Getty
Sven-Goran Eriksson's family announced his tragic death on Monday following a battle with cancer.
The 76-year-old former England manager revealed in January he had only a year to live "at best" and died this week "surrounded by family". On Wednesday, his ex-partner broke down in tears as she remembered the sporting legend.
An announcement from Eriksson's family earlier this week read: "Sven-Goran Eriksson has passed away. After a long illness, SGE died during the morning at home surrounded by family.
"The closest mourners are daughter Line; son Johan with wife Amana and granddaughter Sky; father Sven; girlfriend Yanisette with son Alcides; brother Lars-Erik with wife Jumnong."
Throughout his life, Eriksson's love life was of huge public interest, particularly when Ulrika Jonsson hit headlines back in 2002 when news of her affair with Eriksson broke while he was in a relationship with Nancy Dell'Olio.
Dell'Olio is among the many stars this week who have paid tribute to the sportsman. Despite his affair, Dell'Olio stuck by him and has spoken fondly of her ex following the news of his death. On Wednesday, the 63-year-old was overcome with emotion while talking about Eriksson live on TV.
Nancy Dell'Olio broke down in tears as she talked about her late ex, Sven-Goran Eriksson
ITV
Dell'Olio shared her heartbreak during a moving interview where she talked candidly about Eriksson's death.
Appearing on ITV's Good Morning Britain, she chatted via a video link to talk about the late football legend.
Fighting back tears, Dell'Olio became choked up as she told the presenters: "It's hard pretending that you don't know he was about to die."
She went on to state tearfully: "I just said he was trying to put in the effort to say that he was fine on the phone because most of the time he was not answering or at treatment.
Sven-Goran Eriksson died on Monday following a battle with cancer
Getty
"I never thought that he was about to die. I always believed there would be some sort of miracle," she continued.
Opening up about Eriksson's treatment, she went on: "It was hard, but he sounded so relaxed and we were laughing and he would just say 'I feel okay'.
"It was quite difficult to even be talking but I tried to be fearless and see how he was. I wanted to get together for another dinner."
She went on to label her ex "a very kind person". The Italian lawyer admitted: "When you love someone, you are always going to still love them forever."
The pair first met in 1998 and became romantically involved three years before he got the job as England manager.
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Nancy Dell'Olio struggled to hold back tears during an ITV interview on Wednesday
ITV
Dell'Olio soon moved in with Eriksson in London, but he soon embarked on several affairs. Discussing this, she told viewers: "I made an important choice.
"You never want to regret the decision you made and I knew that it was right… I know from him, as he admitted himself just a few days ago, that he had been very stupid.
"He told me immediately that meant nothing to him and would not even call them relationships. It was stupid for him to do it for his own self-admission."