Former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has revealed his terminal cancer diagnosis came as a ‘shock’ but vowed to not ‘give up’ in his fight against it.

The 75-year-old said the alternative was to sit alone at home – and although he and his family have accepted the inevitable, they are dealing with the news and talk every day.

The Swede was told by doctors he has pancreatic cancer and has “at best a year to live”.

“In the beginning it was very difficult to accept it, but once you accept it life goes on, and life has to go on,” Eriksson told TalkTV on Friday.

He was given the news after collapsing and fainting following a 5km run the day before. His children took him to a hospital and after four hours of tests he was given the diagnosis.

“I felt totally well – it came like a very, very, very big surprise,” he said.

“When you get a message like that it’s like a shock because I was fully fit, and rather fit as well in training. It came from nowhere.”

He continued: “Of course you feel very bad… but you have to fight against it, and that’s what I am trying to do at least.”

The cancer is inoperable so he is now on medication to slow down its progression, but it has spread, he said.

“But sooner or later it will happen. Let’s hope later than sooner,” he continued.

Vanguard News