David Beckham's touching gesture before Sven-Goran Eriksson's funeral as Man Utd icon pays final tribute to former England manager

Beckham paid his respects to Eriksson's family before the ceremony in Torsby, Eriksson's home town. According to the Mirror, the former England captain flew to Sweden on a private jet in order to attend following Eriksson's death last month after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Beckham is said to have immediately embraced Eriksson's family upon arriving at Fryksande church. He gave Eriksson's daughter, Lina, a kiss on a cheek, and then hugged his ex-partner Nancy Dell'Olio once inside the church.

Writing a tribute to Eriksson, Beckham said on Instagram: "We laughed, we cried and we knew we were saying goodbye. Sven, thank you for always being the person you have always been – passionate, caring, calm and a true gentleman. I will be forever be grateful for you making me your captain but I will forever hold these last memories of this day with you and your family. Thank you Sven and in your last words to me, 'it will be ok'."

Eriksson's funeral was expected to draw a large crowd, with funeral adviser Christopher Jansson saying: "I think there will probably be as many standing outside the church as there will be inside. Sven was so popular."