Sven-Goran Eriksson denied his dying wish as officials block it from happening

Sven-Goran Eriksson has been denied his dying wish after officials rejected an application from his family and friends for his final resting place.

Former England manager Eriksson passed away last month at the age of 76 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

In January, Eriksson said he had “at best” a year to live after being diagnosed with the disease.

The Swede, who also managed the likes of Manchester City, Lazio, Benfica and Roma during his managerial career, was mourned at his funeral in Sweden on Friday.

Former England captain David Beckham, who played under Eriksson, was among those to attend.

More than 600 guests took part in the service at Fryksande Church in Eriksson’s hometown of Torsby, with former England manager Roy Hodgson also in attendance.

A friend and former Swedish league rival of Eriksson, Hodgson described the service as “the most incredible, beautiful ceremony… so typical of the Eriksson family and Sven himself.”

Eriksson had one final wish to have his ashes scattered at his favourite beauty spot, Lake Fryken.

Speaking in an Amazon documentary, which was released shortly before he passed away, he said: “It’s a beautiful place. It makes you calm, it makes me calm.

“My father grew up below the mountain. If you look straight ahead there is Torsby where I grew up, and in the other direction is Sunne where I was born.

“I have always thought it was a good place to sleep. My ashes can be thrown into the water here. It feels like home.”

But devastatingly for Eriksson’s family, his last wish has been rejected by local council chiefs.

Eriksson’s agent Bo Gustavsson said [via The Sun]: “We have not been allowed to scatter his ashes in Lake Fryken.”

It has since been confirmed that Eriksson’s ashes will now be buried in an urn at an undisclosed location.

Sven-Goran Eriksson passed away last month (Image: Getty)

Eriksson’s friend Anders Runebjer added: “We have withdrawn our application to scatter his ashes. They will be buried in an urn instead.”

While Eriksson’s dying wish has been rejected, his home town of Torsby is set to honour him.

Torsby Municipality’s business developer, Andre Liljemark, has confirmed that a statue will be built of the former England manager.

“It will be a bronze statue and will be heated by electrical cords inside it keeping it warm, so people will be able to come here during the winter and Svennis will be warm to touch,” he told The Mirror.

“It will be exactly Svennis’ size. The arms, the fingers, the nose, the ears, everything. The artist visited Svennis and took measurements. Every millimetre of his body will be the right size and on the statue will be Svennis’ real suit and shoes, which he wore.

“She’s [the artist] been taking inspiration from pictures of the time when he was with England. It is in the making and will be finished maybe in November.”