Sven-Goran Eriksson funeral: Candle in the Wind plays as David Beckham joins mourners

David Beckham was among the mourners at Sven-Göran Eriksson’s funeral on Friday, with around 600 guests paying tribute to the former England manager.

Eriksson’s funeral was in his hometown of Torsby and those unable to gain entry to the Fryksande church were able to watch the ceremony on a big screen.

Eriksson’s wooden coffin was covered in white flowers and surrounded by six tall candles and other floral wreaths as the ceremony began.

“It is a day of grief but also a day of thankfulness,” the priest, Ingela Alvskog, told those in attendance.

Eriksson wrote a final Telegraph Sport column reflecting on his life and his family gave permission for it to be published on Thursday before his funeral.

Eriksson wrote: “I would like people to remember me as a decent coach who tried to do his best. I hope they enjoyed me being their manager. My message to everyone would be: don’t give up. Never give up.

“Do not give up, is my message for life. And please don’t forget this: life is always, always to be celebrated.”

Former captain David Beckham, who led England under Eriksson at three major international tournaments, was in attendance as well as other members of the team from 2001 to 2006 when the Swede managed the side. Beckham was pictured hugging Eriksson’s former partner Nancy Dell’Olio inside the church.

Eriksson’s coffin arrived around 7am local time. A single bell tolled as his body was carried into the church.

Members of Sweden’s royal family were also in attendance, with roads surrounding the church in the small town where Eriksson grew up cordoned off by police.

Some 200 seats in the church were reserved for his family, friends and players from his career in the football world, according to his agent. The remaining seats were open for the public, according to Eriksson’s wish, with a big screen set up outside the church where dozens more gathered to watch. The funeral was also broadcast live on some Swedish media websites.

The coffin was wheeled in by pallbearers as fog wrapped Torsby, a town with a population of around 4,000 people about 193 miles west of Stockholm. Next to the casket was a photo of Eriksson on a small table. The floral wreaths included ones sent by Fifa and Lazio, the Italian team that Eriksson led to the Serie A title in 2000.

The ceremony began with sombre piano and organ music, but later took on a more upbeat note with Swedish singer Charlotta Birgersson performing Elton John’s song Candle In The Wind and then My Way in a duet with Johan Birgersson.

Among those to arrive early were Eriksson’s father and children as well as a childhood friend of the former Lazio and Benfica coach, Bengt Berg.

“I’m very happy and very sad at the same time,” he said. “But it’s fantastic to see him returning to his first point. It’s a very curious feeling.

“He’s one of us and we share his glory. But when he returned here, he was just one of the hot-dog eaters.”

Eriksson died at the age of 76 in August, eight months after revealing he had terminal cancer.

Beckham wrote at the time: “Sven, thank you for always being the person you have always been, passionate, caring, calm and a true gentleman.

“I will be forever grateful for you making me your captain.”