Family of Sven-Goran Eriksson Forced to Auction Memorabilia After His Death Leaves £8 Million Debt

The family of Sven-Goran Eriksson, former England football manager, has been left with a daunting financial burden following his death in August.

According to recent reports, they have been forced to auction off valuable memorabilia to help cover an £8 million debt left behind by the Swede, who passed away from pancreatic cancer at the age of 76.

Despite having assets worth £4.8 million, Eriksson owed a significant amount to HMRC—an estimated £7.25 million—at the time of his passing.

The debt, combined with his earlier admission that he had been “stupid” with money, has left his family in a difficult position.

Memorabilia Auctioned Off to Settle Debt

As a result, Eriksson’s loved ones have been forced to sell off hundreds of personal mementoes.

Among the items auctioned were a lunch invitation from the late Queen and a rare Armani suit worn by Eriksson during the 2006 World Cup, which still contained his handwritten team notes from the match.

The auction, which included 349 items in total, raised £140,000.

Other notable items included Eriksson’s BBC Coach of the Year trophy from 2001 and a Premier League Manager of the Month award from his time managing Manchester City.

Additionally, an Ivory Coast football shirt, signed by Didier Drogba with a special message, was sold, a reminder of Eriksson’s time managing the national team in 2010.

Future Auctions and Ongoing Financial Struggles

The Swedish auction house handling the sales indicated that there may be more items put up for auction in the future.

“There was huge interest from England, Italy, and Portugal,” the auction house said, noting the global affection for Eriksson.

The success of the auctions suggests there may be further sales, including the potential sale of some of Eriksson’s furniture.

In addition to the memorabilia sales, Eriksson’s luxury mansion at Björkefors Manor, located by Lake Fryken, was also put up for sale shortly after his death.

This property, where Eriksson spent his final years with his partner, Yaniseth Alcides, was part of the liquidation process following his passing.

Eriksson’s Financial Reflections and Regrets

Despite earning around £7 million in payoffs from his time managing England, Manchester City, and Mexico, Eriksson admitted in a candid interview before his death that he had never been concerned with money.

“I was never interested in money—I never took care of it and trusted people to do that for me,” he said.

“I was stupid not to control where the money went.

I realized that when I didn’t have any more cash!”

Even after the challenges, Eriksson’s legacy lives on, as his memorabilia continues to fetch attention from his admirers across the globe.