Sven's farewell: David Beckham among mourners at ex England manager's funeral

The funeral procession for Sven-Goran Eriksson leaving Fryksande Church in Torsby, Sweden. Pic: Yui Mok/PA Wire.

The funeral of Sven-Goran Eriksson, the first foreigner to manage England's national soccer team, was held on Friday in the small Swedish town where he grew up before embarking on a career that would span many decades, countries and trophies.

A soft-spoken but determined coach, Eriksson guided teams in Sweden, Portugal and Italy to major trophies in the 1980s and 1990s before taking on the England job in 2001, managing stars such as David Beckham, with whom he formed a close bond.