Sven-Goran Eriksson was given a hero's welcome as he attended a major gala event in Sweden, just weeks after revealing his cancer diagnosis.
The terminally-ill former England football team manager was seen beaming a toothy grin alongside his partner Yaniseth Alcides and daughter Lina at the event at the Friends Arena in Stockholm yesterday, where he was heralded as an 'inspiration'.
It comes less than two weeks after the 75-year-old announced that he was afflicted by terminal cancer and may only have months left, declaring: 'I have to fight as long as possible'.
Sven's crisp attire and positive demeanour belied his diagnosis - he arrived dressed in a sharp royal blue suit and tie and was seen embracing fellow attendees and shaking hands.
He was invited on stage at Sweden's Sports Gala 2024 to address the crowd before awarding the Leader of the Year trophy.
His Panamanian partner Alcides - a former nightclub dancer whom the Swedish managerial titan met during his stint coaching the Mexican national team in 2008-2009 - also appeared in good spirits as she accompanied Sven to the gala, wearing a plunging black dress.
'Sven has always been a great source of inspiration,' former Sweden national team captain Tommy Söderberg said, via Dagens Nyheter.
'With his innovative thinking and a new way of playing football, he has meant a lot to Swedish football. That's why it feels extra nice that we get the chance to pay tribute to him for that,' former Sweden national team goalkeeper Thomas Ravelli added.
Eriksson fears he has a year to live or at 'worst a little less' after the bombshell diagnosis last year.
He said earlier this month: 'Everyone understands that I have an illness that is not good. Everyone guesses it's cancer and it is. But I have to fight as long as I can'.
When asked what the prognosis is, he told Sweden's P1 radio station that he has 'maybe at best a year, at worst a little less, or at best maybe even longer. You can't be absolutely sure. It is better not to think about it'.
There had been speculation about his health after he stopped working as sporting director of Karlstad in his native Sweden. Today he revealed that he collapsed after a run last year and found out he was seriously ill, but is otherwise fit and healthy.
He said: 'It is not good. Everyone guessed it's cancer and it is. But I have to fight as long as I can.
'But you can trick your brain. See the positive in things, don't wallow in adversity, because this is the biggest adversity of course, but make something good out of it'.
But he was determined to wear a big smile as he donned a navy blue suit for the gala ceremony.
Sven told P1 that he had suddenly collapsed while going for a 5km run.
After seeing his doctors, it turned out that Eriksson had suffered a stroke and also had cancer.
He said: 'They don't know how long I had cancer, maybe a month or a year'.
In a glittering managerial career Sven was boss of IFK Gothenburg, Benfica, Roma, Roma, Fiorentina, Sampdoria, Lazio, Manchester City and Leicester City.
He was also manager of Mexico, Ivory Coast and the Philippines.
But while in charge of England for five years he became the most famous football manager in the world.
Between 2001 and 2006 he guided the so-called 'golden generation' of stars including David Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard but never won the major trophy that was expected.
His tragic diagnosis came almost exactly 22 years after he resigned as Lazio manager earlier than expected to assume his coaching role with England.
Eriksson is determined to enjoy what is left of his life and that was evident in how much he enjoyed the gala dinner.
But there is still plenty he would like to do.
Eriksson recently admitted it would be his 'dream' to manage Liverpool during their upcoming Legends charity match against Ajax in March.
Supporters had asked for the former England boss to be given the chance to manage the club, after his terminal diagnosis was revealed.
And former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler subsequently stated that the 'call had gone in' to put Eriksson in the dugout for the game.
Eriksson, who admitted that he has around a year to live after being diagnosed with the illness, stated that as a Liverpool fan, he always wanted to manage the club.
And speaking on Good Morning Britian on Monday, Eriksson was asked by the television program's host, Suzannah Reid, whehter he knew that Liverpool supporters had asked for him to manage the side for the charity match and whether 'that was something he would like to do?'
He responded: 'No I didn't know about that. I knew that they had a charity game. In March I think it is. And me and my son are invited to see that game. That might be great and there will be a lot of good football players there.
'But that I should be their manager? No I've never heard that.'