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David Beckham and Nancy Dell’Olio were among the mourners at Sven-Goran Eriksson’s funeral in Sweden on Friday.

The celebrities greeted Eriksson’s family and friends at Fryksande Church in the Swedish town of Torsby ahead of the morning ceremony.

Italian lawyer Dell’Olio was in a relationship with the former England manager from 1998 to 2007, while Beckham was among the players he managed.

Eriksson died aged 76 last month after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

His partner Yanisette Alcides, daughter Lina, and father Sven were also among those pictured arriving.

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Beckham attends Sven-Goran Eriksson’s funeral

Nancy Dell'Olio arrives for the funeral. Pic: PA
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Nancy Dell’Olio arrives for the funeral. Pic: PA

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The Swede became the first foreign manager of the England men’s football team in 2001, coaching players including Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney, and Frank Lampard.

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He left the England role after the 2006 World Cup and later managed Mexico and the Ivory Coast, as well as English clubs Manchester City and Leicester City.

He rose from being a PE teacher in a small Swedish town to the peaks of English football.

Soccer Football - Funeral of Sven-Goran Eriksson - Torsby, Sweden - September 13, 2024 Sven-Goran Eriksson's partner, Yaniseth Alcides (right) arrives for the funeral service at Fryksande church Jonas Ekstromer/TT News Agency via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. SWEDEN OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN SWEDEN.
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Sven-Goran Eriksson’s partner, Yaniseth Alcides (right) arrives for the funeral. Pic: Reuters

Sven Goran Eriksson's daughter Lina (right) greets guests. Pic: PA
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Sven Goran Eriksson’s daughter Lina (right) greets guests. Pic: PA

Sven-Goran Eriksson's father Sven arrives for his funeral. Pic: PA
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Sven-Goran Eriksson’s father Sven arrives for his funeral. Pic: PA

Sven-Goran Eriksson's coffin arrives at the funeral. Pic: AP
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Sven-Goran Eriksson’s coffin arrives at the funeral. Pic: AP

‘A true gentleman’

Announcing his death, a family statement said: “After a long illness, SGE died during the morning at home surrounded by family.

“The closest mourners are daughter Lina; son Johan with wife Amana and granddaughter Sky; father Sven; girlfriend Yanisette with son Alcides; brother Lars-Erik with wife Jumnong.”

Itlalian lawyer Dell’Olio initially described Eriksson as her “husband” in her tribute, but it was later edited to say “partner” as the couple never married.

She wrote: “When you love someone, that love never truly fades.”

Eriksson became England manager in 2001 and named David Beckham captain of the team.
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Eriksson became England manager in 2001 and named David Beckham captain of the team.

Former Liverpool and Sweden footballer Glenn Hysén arrives on Friday. Pic: PA
Image:
Former Liverpool and Sweden footballer Glenn Hysén arrives on Friday. Pic: PA

In his tribute, Beckham described Eriksson as a “true gentleman”.

“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…,” he wrote on Instagram.

“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’.”

A mourner wears a IFK Goteborg football kit as he watches the funeral on a big screen outside the church. Pic: PA
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A mourner wears a IFK Goteborg football kit as he watches the funeral on a big screen outside the church. Pic: PA

The service inside Fryksande church in Torsby, Sweden. Pic: Reuters
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The service inside Fryksande church in Torsby, Sweden. Pic: Reuters

Lazio's Swedish coach Sven-Goran Eriksson gestures at the start of Lazio's Italian Series A match against Brescia inn 2000. 
Pic: Reuters
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Sven-Goran Eriksson in 2000. Pic: Reuters

Due to his health issues, Eriksson stepped down as sporting director at Swedish club Karlstad in February 2023.

After announcing his cancer diagnosis, Eriksson was granted his lifelong wish when he led out Liverpool Legends, as they played in a charity match against Ajax at Anfield in March.

He described the moment as “absolutely beautiful” and a “huge memory” in his life, with Liverpool winning the game 4-2.

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Liverpool win Premier League title to equal Man Utd’s record

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Liverpool win Premier League title to equal Man Utd's record

Liverpool have won the Premier League title after a 5-1 victory over Tottenham at Anfield.

Arne Slot’s men did it in impressive style, turning over Spurs in a convincing win.

It was a rocky start for the Reds after Dominic Solanke put the north London side ahead.

However, fortunes quickly changed in the first half as Liverpool scored three times without a response.

Captain Virgil van Dijk (centre) celebrates. Pic: Reuters
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Captain Virgil van Dijk (centre) celebrates. Pic: Reuters

Salah on his knees in celebration after the final whistle. Pic: AP
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Salah on his knees in celebration after the final whistle. Pic: AP

Liverpool's Harvey Elliott (below) and Jarell Quansah celebrate after full-time. Pic: PA
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Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott (below) and Jarell Quansah celebrate after full-time. Pic: PA

Slot cheers after the full-time whistle. Pic: AP
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Slot cheers after the full-time whistle. Pic: AP

In the second half, it took until the 63rd minute for Mohamed Salah to make it 4-1 before a fifth followed.

The Reds have won the title in manager Arne Slot’s first season in charge, and move level with fierce rivals Manchester United on 20 league championships.

But it makes them arguably the most successful English club ever as they have won more European Cup or Champions League titles.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk told Sky Sports after the final whistle: “It’s special and it’s something that we don’t take for granted. It’s amazing.

“A lot of emotions before the game, during the whole week, but we got the job done and we (are) truly deserved champions of England. (Liverpool is) the most beautiful club in the world and I think we deserve all of this. Let’s enjoy the next couple of weeks and let it sink in.”

Liverpool's Kostas Tsimikas poses with a Premier League trophy cut out. Pic: Reuters
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Liverpool’s Kostas Tsimikas poses with a Premier League trophy cut out. Pic: Reuters

Manager Arne Slot and his team after the final whistle. Pic: AP
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Manager Arne Slot and his team after the final whistle. Pic: AP

Slot took over last summer from Jurgen Klopp, who guided them to their previous and maiden Premier League title triumph in 2020, when the COVID-19 lockdown saw matches played behind closed doors.

He is the first Dutch manager to win the Premier League and the fifth man to do so in a debut campaign after Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Manuel Pellegrini, and Antonio Conte.

Speaking to Sky Sports he said: “They [the players] did an outstanding job today. The main job was to win. Everyone said we had got it already. But we had to make sure and we got over the line.”

Several players, including Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, and Mohamed Salah, played leading roles in both the 2025 and 2020 campaigns.

Van Dijk and Salah recently signed new contracts extending their careers at the club.

Mohamed Salah takes a selfie with fans after scouring the fourth Liverpool goal. Pic: AP
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Mohamed Salah takes a selfie with fans after scouring the fourth Liverpool goal. Pic: AP

Fans at Anfield during the game. Pic: AP
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Fans at Anfield during the game. Pic: AP

Fans in the stands at Anfield before full-time. Pic: Reuters
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Fans in the stands at Anfield before full-time. Pic: Reuters

Liverpool will have to wait until the final game of the season – at home to Crystal Palace on 25 May – to be presented with the Premier League trophy.

It will be the first time the club’s fans will have seen their side lift the top-flight title in person since 1990.

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Protesters throw powder on Tower Bridge during London Marathon

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Protesters throw powder on Tower Bridge during London Marathon

Two pro-Palestinian demonstrators have thrown red powder on Tower Bridge – just moments before leading runners in the London Marathon went past.

The protesters were arrested on suspicion of causing a public nuisance and remain in custody, said the Metropolitan Police.

A video shared by Youth Demand, which is calling for a trade embargo on Israel, shows two people jumping over a barrier that separates spectators from the race course.

The pair, wearing t-shirts that say “Youth Demand: Stop Arming Israel”, are then seen standing in the middle of the road on the bridge.

Pic: LNP
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Pic: LNP

They throw red powder in the air as an official marathon car goes past displaying the race time.

A motorbike with a cameraman on board continues along the route, while a second motorbike stops and one of the riders gets off and pushes the pair out of the way, just before the men’s elite runners pass.

Several police officers then jump over the barrier and detain the pair, the footage shows.

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There appeared to be no impact on the marathon.

More than 56,000 participants were expected to take part in the 26.2-mile race through the capital.

Sabastian Sawe of Kenya won the men’s elite race in a time of two hours, two minutes and 27 seconds, while Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa shattered the women’s-only world record in two hours, 15 minutes and 50 seconds.

Assefa beat the previous best of two hours, 16 minutes and 16 seconds set last year in London by Kenyan Peres Jepchirchir.

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Pic: LNP
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Pic: LNP

The Metropolitan Police said in a statement: “At around 10.38am, two protesters from Youth Demand jumped over barriers at Tower Bridge and threw red paint on to the road.

“Marathon event staff intervened to remove the protesters from the path of the men’s elite race which was able to pass unobstructed.”

The force added that they were “quickly supported by police officers who arrested the protesters on suspicion of causing a public nuisance”.

The Met said the paint “appeared to be chalk-based” and was not expected to “present a hazard to runners yet to pass this point”.

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Kemi Badenoch does not rule out local coalitions with Reform after next week’s council elections

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Kemi Badenoch does not rule out local coalitions with Reform after next week's council elections

Kemi Badenoch has not ruled out forming coalitions at a local level with Reform after the council elections next week.

Speaking to Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, the Conservative leader did however categorically rule out a pact with Nigel Farage’s party on a national level.

“I am not going into any coalition with Nigel Farage… read my lips,” she said.

However, she did not deny that deals could be struck with Reform at a local level, arguing that some councils might be under no overall control and in that case, “you have to do what is right for your local area”.

“You look at the moment, we are in coalition with Liberal Democrats, with independents,” she said. “We’ve been in coalition with Labour before at local government level.

“They [councillors] have to look at who the people are that they’re going into coalition with and see how they can deliver for local people.”

She added: “What I don’t want to hear is talks of stitch-ups or people planning things before the results are out. They have to do what is right for their communities.”

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A total of 23 councils are up for grabs when voters go to the polls on Thursday 1 May – mostly in places that were once deemed Tory shires, until last year’s general election.

It includes 14 county councils, all but two of which have been Conservative-controlled, as well as eight unitary authorities, all but one of which are Tory.

Ms Badenoch has set expectations low for the Tories, suggesting they could lose all the councils they are contesting.

The last time this set of councils were up for election was in 2021, when the Conservative Party was led by Boris Johnson who was riding high from the COVID vaccine bounce.

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