Sven-Goran Eriksson’s former mistress has paid tribute to the former England manager.
Faira Alam broke her silence following Eriksson’s death aged 76 from pancreatic cancer last month, telling him ‘see you on the other side’.
Alam worked as a model before becoming a secretary at the FA in 2003 during Eriksson’s stint coaching the national team. The pair were involved in a six-month affair which broke while Eriksson was dating Italian lawyer Nancy Dell’Olio
But in her latest comments, Alam that she got back in touch with Eriksson ten years later when she was invited by him to meet him in Hong Kong.
Saying that the Swedish football manager had left an impact on her life, Alam also revealed that she regretted the way their affair ended.
Sven-Goran Eriksson’s former mistress Faria Alam has paid an emotional tribute to the former England boss following his death from pancreatic cancer last month
Alam was revealed to have had an affair with Eriksson while he was managing the England squad in 2003
David Beckham touches the coffin of the Swedish football manager at his funeral service in his hometown of Torsby
A tribute to Eriksson is screened at Manchester City, where a minute’s silence was held for the club’s former manager
She told the Sun on Sunday: ‘I just want him to rest in peace, and see you on the other side if we ever meet.
‘The body deteriorates and dies, but your soul never does. His soul will always remain. I hope his spirit lives on, especially in his children. I’m sure it does.
‘I want to give my deepest condolences to his family and his partner.’
After their affair was reported, Alam lost her job with the FA, while Eriksson admitted to leaving her ‘hung out to dry’.
In October 2024 Alam made claims against the Football Association of sexual harassment, unfair dismissal, as well accusing the body of a breach of contract – which were rejected by an industrial tribunal in September 2005.
Alam now works for fashion house Gucci and lives in Kirkland, near Seattle in Washington state.
Eriksson was also revealed to have had an affair with Swede Ulrika Jonsson.
Alam said she declined to get involved with Eriksson until she knew that Dell’Olio was not living with him, while saying that reports at the time made it look as if the England manager was in the ‘midst of this amazing marriage or whatever’.
She described Eriksson as a ‘very passionate man’ and the ‘very opposite of his cool exterior’, adding that he was ‘calm and collected’.
Alam said she reached out to Eriksson in 2014 after they hadn’t spoken in 10 years
Eriksson with Nancy Dell’Olio. The former football manager’s affairs while dating the Italian lawyer became scandals during his tenure at England
Torsby’s brass band leads Sven-Goran Eriksson’s coffin along the walk from Fryksände church to the Kollsberg homestead
Sven Goran Eriksson and Nancy Dell’Olio in 2002. The Swede was in a relationship with her while he was England boss
Nancy Dell’Olio touches Sven-Goran Eriksson’s coffin at the homestead museum where the funeral service continued today
David Beckham arrives at the funeral service for Sven-Goran Eriksson at Fryksände church in Torsby, Sweden, this morning
She said: ‘I know he loved me, he said so, and I told him I loved him because I did.
‘Hopefully at the end people will say, yeah, he was a good man, but everyone will not say that.’
They hadn’t spoken in ten years when she emailed him in 2014, following which the former England manager reached out and invited her to Hong Kong, she said.
‘He just wanted to see me, I guess. I didn’t go but we spoke very fondly to each other about how we felt’, she recalled.
Around 600 mourners attended Eriksson’s funeral at Fryksande church in his hometown of Torsby.
Among those who paid their respects was lover Dell’Olio, former England captain David Beckham and Eriksson’s partner Yaniseth Alcides.
The funeral service for football coach Sven-Göran Eriksson at Fryksände church in Torsby, Sweden, this morning
Mourners outside the funeral for football boss Sven-Göran Eriksson at Fryksände church in Torsby, Sweden, this morning
Eriksson’s daughter Lina, son Johan and father Sven during the funeral of their father in Torsby
Nancy Dell’Olio outside Fryksande Church in Torsby, Sweden ahead of Eriksson’s funeral
Dell’Olio gave a heartfelt tribute to Eriksson after his funeral procession.
She told reporters: ”When you love someone and they’ve gone part of your life is gone forever. I will miss our love, our beautiful travels and the love we gave each other.’
Eriksson led England for five years, having previously guided Italian club Lazio to the Serie A title.
He steered England to the World Cup quarter-finals in both 2002 and 2006, and the last-eight of Euro 2004.
Eriksson pictured with his son Johan holding a tennis racket and his wife Anki in 1988
Sven-Goran Eriksson in a recent Amazon Prime documentary about his life, entitled ‘Sven’
Erikssen’s children Lina and Johan (pictured in Stockholm in June 2014) paid tribute to their ‘brave’ father and thanked all those who created ‘positive memories’ with him during his illness
After stepping back from the national team, he went on to manage Leicester City, Manchester City and Mexico.
Eriksson’s children also paid tribute to their ‘brave’ father, thanking all those who helped to create ‘positive memories’ during his battle with cancer.
The Swede had said he had in January ‘best case a year’ to live following his diagnosis, was surrounded by his family as he passed away this morning at his home in Björkefors.
His 95-year-old father, Sven Eriksson Sr, said following his son’s shock death: ‘It’s tough, it is. But […] that’s the way it is. Svennis was allowed to fall asleep at home, just as he wanted,