In pace with the international guests arriving at Karlstad airport, preparations are underway at Fryksände church the day before Sven-Göran Eriksson's funeral.
They are fixing flower arrangements, TV cameras, musical instruments, and extra chairs.
Around 600 guests are expected to come to pay their respects to Sven-Göran Eriksson, who passed away on August 26 – and planning a funeral of this magnitude is not done overnight. Right up to the last minute, some practical details will be unclear.
One of those who will be in attendance is Morgan Oldenmark, once a teammate of "Svennis" in Torsby IF.
He was liked by everyone. As far as I know, he never said a bad word about anyone. It's a bit strange, but he was so like his father. Just as calm, kind, and considerate, says Morgan Oldenmark.
Sven-Göran Eriksson: best in defense
As an honorary member of Torsby IF, Sven-Göran Eriksson played an important role in the association's history, and when "Svennis" was to be honored this summer, Morgan Oldenmark dug up an old match report from October 3, 1970.
It was his last match in Torsby, and what was fun about it was that it said goal scorer, goal shooter, and then it said at the end: best in defense: Sven-Göran Eriksson. So I read it out to the whole congregation, says Oldenmark.
A few hundred meters away from the church lies Wienerkonditoriet, which sells a specially designed "Svennis" pastry with mazarin mass, chocolate truffle, and marzipan.
There's a lot of talk about "Svennis". Many ask if he was here often, and he was, towards the end. But his dad is here more. He's here three days a week, says Maria Lindqvist who works at the pastry shop.
"Tomorrow we will celebrate"
The official guest list for the funeral has not been made public for security reasons. But one of those expected to attend is David Beckham, and at 5 pm on Thursday, the Englishman landed at Karlstad airport in a private plane.
A few hours earlier, "Svennis" son Johan Eriksson was on site to receive, among others, football coach Roy Hodgson, representatives from the English Football Association, and journalist Henry Winter, reports Nya Wermlands-Tidningen.
Tomorrow we will celebrate dad, that's what he wanted, said Johan Eriksson according to NWT.
