In Italy she is affectionately known as ‘La Dama Nera’, or the Dark Lady. In England she has been called ‘the First Lady of Football’. Nancy Dell’Olio is best known as the woman behind the former England team coach, Sven Goran Eriksson, during the five years leading up to England’s 2006 defeat in Germany. Nancy trained as an international lawyer and chairs an organisation, Truce, which promotes peace through football in war-torn areas. But most readers of her new autobiography, My Beautiful Game, will scour the pages looking for details not only of his relationship with Ms Dell’Olio but also with television presenter Ulrika Jonsson and Football Association secretary Faria Alam. So how does Nancy reconcile these affairs with her portrayal of Sven as her ‘life partner’?
My Beautiful Game by Nancy Dell'Olio, published by Bantam. ISBN 978059359050
