Erikson’s final message breaks hearts: “Don’t give up, life should always be celebrated”

They were on a postseason tour in Thailand and Diddy was sitting by the pool. Diddy didn’t know that Tord Gripp, my assistant, and I had just been fired. Both Tord and I felt sad about it because we had a good season. So we did what anyone should do in this situation: we bought a few bottles of champagne.

I saw Diddy by the pool and gave him a drink. When he tells the story, he says he was confused. He said to me “What are we celebrating boss?”.

My response was the same then as it is now, writing these last words of mine to be published who knows when. “We’re celebrating life, Kaiser,” I said. “Life”.

We sat by the pool on our sunbeds and had a drink. Celebrate life. That’s always been my mindset: whatever they throw at you.

Ever since I found out I had terminal cancer, it’s been tough. There were days when I felt really bad and other days when I felt good.

Through it all though, I always tried to live each day with a smile on my face. You have to stay positive.

Writing a piece about death naturally makes you think. Everything went very quickly! Where did life go?

But one thought always comes to mind: It was a dream. One of the best jobs you can have in the world is being a football coach. I can tell you this: I’ve never woken up in the morning and felt, “Oh no, I have to go back to work.”

Every day was a delight. Of course, you don’t win every game and sometimes your team plays poorly. Of course, you may be heavily criticized – but it doesn’t matter. It’s great to be on the training pitch, talking to players and trying to make them better. When 60,000 people support you, it gives you a huge boost.

It seems like yesterday when I got my first job in 1977 with Degefors in Sweden. I was a very average football player so Tord gave me some advice. He told me I should stop playing football. I heard him. It was the right decision. As a football player I trained very hard, but I was never good.

I enjoyed coaching much more than being a footballer. I was very fortunate to coach different teams at a very high level. In Gothenburg, my second job, I won the UEFA Cup. In Italy, with Lazio, I won the Serie A title and the UEFA European Cup Winners’ Cup.

With Benfica in Portugal we won the league three times and lost 1-0 in the 1990 European Cup final to Arrigo Sacchi’s great Milan. There were other big clubs and other finals. Not a bad run.

To be hired as England manager was a huge honour, perhaps the highlight of my career. When they asked me if I wanted the job, I couldn’t believe it. It was one of the happiest days of my life. It’s a job that’s impossible to refuse. There were many good times. The 5-1 win over Germany in Munich in 2001. We played in two World Cups and one Euro.

Of course, there were some bad moments. I was told by the FA that I would have to leave after the 2006 World Cup finals and my teams never got past a quarter-final.

I’ve had so many brilliant players that I’ve been lucky enough to work with. Wayne Rooney was a fireball and one of the best I have ever seen. I’ll never forget the game towards the end of the 2005-06 Premier League season when Rooney broke his metatarsal playing for Manchester United at Stamford Bridge, just before the World Cup.

I was in the stands praying with my hands together. When I saw Rooney get injured I thought ‘w…ha’. And then I thought, bloody hell.

I also had to learn a completely different way of managing players with England. I was very surprised when we were in Japan for the 2002 World Cup and the David Beckham he came to me on the second day and asked if the players could go out shopping. I’ve never heard Italian players ask this.

Yes, of course, I said and we had to organize it. It became a big problem because you don’t let players go out on their own, especially Beckham. Italian and Portuguese players can sit for hours talking and drinking coffee. They have absolutely no problem. England’s players had to kill their free time. They have to do something.

Every tournament we participated in, they had a game room as big as my house. Well, maybe not that big. A completely different culture. I would have loved to have been more successful, but it was still a magical moment.

Even when I lived in England and I was a coach, I didn’t hear bad words from anyone. Everyone was educated and professional, although there were negative stories about my private life, which I did not like.

If I had lifted the World Cup with England, I would have taken the trophy and then retired forever. It would be perfect. Sooner or later England will win a big trophy and I think it could happen very quickly because the players are very good. There is huge quality in this team.

Since being diagnosed with cancer I have been extremely lucky to visit all my old clubs. As well as being invited to visit her Liverpool and that is a memory I will cherish forever. It was beautiful, all of it.

The audience response was wonderful. It gave me energy and positivity. I’ve cried a lot these past few months. They were happy tears, mostly. I would like people to remember me as a decent coach who tried to do his best. I hope they enjoyed having me as their manager. My message to everyone would be: don’t give up. Never give up.