Sven's worst nightmare: Nancy in a wedding dress

They split up 15 months ago and he was certain their turbulent relationship would – and could - never be resurrected.

So seeing Nancy Dell'Olio in a wedding dress will undoubtedly stoke fear in the heart of former England manager and lothario Sven-Goran Eriksson.

But luckily for the Manchester City boss, 60, his fiery Italian former lover - who stuck by cheating Eriksson during two high-profile affairs – is not coming back for a another crack at the whip.



Miss Dell'Olio, 49, instead is posing in a photoshoot in Rome for an Italian magazine.

In fact her Sven-chasing days would appear to be firmly over as the petite lawyer attempts to rebuild her life and rebrand her image.

A lot has changed since the tempestuous Latin lover and the cool-as-a-cucumber-yet- fond-of-the-odd-away-game Swede announced their last goodbye in November 2006.

Miss Dell'Olio's taste in clothes, for one, has changed quite radically. From the catsuit she chose to wear to a Downing Street function in 2002, the Italian has cast aside her more flamboyant confections in favour of straightforward – and younger-looking – skirts, jeans and boots.



Her trademark long tresses are also gone, leaving the queen of opulence wearing nothing more luxuriant than a gamine, pixie-style crop.

And the exuberance of southern Italy has been exchanged for something rather more metropolitan.

Nancy has even acquired a chic "bachelor pad" in exclusive Belgravia as her new London base.



"One thing is for sure – I'm starting a new phase in life," she conceded recently.

"That doesn't mean I'm changing all the people in my life but my priorities are changing.

"I'm a different person. I've always had great expectations of life – I've always thought there will be something better around the corner.

"I like keeping my options open. When you have lived an intense love story, it's nice to discover yourself again."

But Eriksson, who she met in 1998 when he was manager of Roman club Lazio, will always remain a big part of her life.

But her memories will no doubt be mixed.

Their relationship was rocked by two affairs and it is claimed that in the end Miss Dell'Olio could not cope with his infidelity.

At the start of 2002, Sven had a highly publicised fling with television presenter - and fellow Swede -Ulrika Jonsson.

It was a particularly bitter episode as Miss Jonsson repeatedly attacked the Italian in her weekly News of the World column.

She once asked: "Has that fake tan lotion started to pickle her brain?"

In 2004, it was revealed that Sven was having an affair with Football Association secretary Faria Alam.

She was subsequently fired from her position and Sven was heavily criticised in the press.

But defiant Miss Dell'Olio's only comment was: “Nothing or no one has, or will, come between us.”

So, who knows, maybe wedding bells are in the air - and now she's got a new plan to tie Sven down.