Football stars have started to arrive at Sven-Goran Eriksson's funeral on Friday (13 September).
Eriksson passed away aged 76 last month, after a battle with cancer. The Swede's funeral will now take place on Friday with his hometown set to come to a standstill as it says goodbye to its most famous son.
David Beckham, who played under Eriksson for England, was snapped hugging the Swede's ex-partner Nancy Dell'Olio as they both arrived at the Fryksände Church in the tiny Swedish town of Torsby.
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Beckham arrived in Sweden on Thursday evening - and so too did former England boss Roy Hodgson, who touched down alongside FA officials.
However, the majority of the congregation will be the area's residents - just as Sven wanted. The star's close pal Bengt Berg, who will give a eulogy in Sven's honour, told the Mirror: "The funeral will be as he wished.
"Sven was a big star in football, but he wasn't a big star when he came back here. He was very ordinary and human."
Bengt, 78, who first became friends with Sven when they were both aged just 12, added: "He was humble and never forgot his roots. They were very important to him and I think they helped him in his career."
Local police estimate between 500 and a few thousand locals could attend the church service, which starts at 10am, including many who will watch on a giant screen outside the 600-capacity church.
A single bell tolled as Sven's body was carried into the church shortly after 7am and the service was delivered in both Swedish and English.
Priest Ingela Alvskog, a close friend of Sven's, said: "In spite of his illness, Sven-Goran's last few months were full of life. He received many tributes to him from many people around the world. We all remember when hand in hand with his granddaughter Sky at the stadium in Liverpool."
The service - which was broadcast on screens outside the church for gathered fans and well-wishers - also included reflections from Sven's family in the moving personal sermon.
The priest said: “Sven-Goran was genuinely kind and never deliberately caused problems. He was a loving father, but not good at going shopping! He was not too interested in dancing either, but became quite proficient at the salsa.
“Sven-Goran was never late. He would rather be five or ten minutes early. Taking it easy on holiday was never his thing. He loved routine and discipline. He loved good food and drink and travelling first class.
“Sven-Goran was mentally strong, even in adversity. He had a will of iron and never gave up. In spite of his illness Sven-Goran’s last few months have been full of life. He received many tributes from around the world.”
And said she and his loved ones have “so many beautiful memories” of the star, who she said “brought so much joy” and “a lot of laughter”.
Mourners laughed as she told how he started wearing suits as a teenager and would put a 'Do Not Disturb' sign on his door while he pretended to do homework, when he was instead reading detective novels.
Musical tributes during the funeral service included a singer performing the Italian classic known as 'Volare', a duet of Frank Sinatra's 'My Way', and a reworked personalised version of Sir Elton John's 'Candle in the Wind' sung by Charlotta och Johan Birgersson.
Towards the end of the service, family and closest friends gathered by the coffin to say their final goodbyes, and after they returned to their seats, his body was carried out, with the casket and procession of clergy, family, and invited guests met by a guard of honour formed by Torsby's sports club.
He will be laid to rest at a picturesque lakeside near Lake Fryken, not far from his birthplace and his Torsby boyhood stomping grounds in western Sweden.
"A beautiful place, [it] makes you calm, makes me calm," he said reflectively in his Amazon Prime documentary. Scanning across the lake, he said with feeling: "Below the mountain [is] where my father grew up.
"If you look straight on, that's Torsby, where I grew up. I always thought great place, to sleep. The ashes could be thrown into the water here. It feels like home."
