Swedish football manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who became the first foreigner to lead the England national team, died on Monday at the age of 76.
Eriksson, a charismatic coach who led Swedish, Portuguese and Italian clubs to major trophies in the 1980s and 1990s before taking on the England job in 2001, announced in January that he was terminally ill with pancreatic cancer.
Eriksson’s long-time agent Bo Gustavsson said Eriksson had lost his battle with cancer early on Monday, surrounded by his family.
“We knew it was going to end bad, it all went really fast in the last few weeks,” said Gustavsson.
“I have been fascinated by him for a long time, he has always been so positive and has had time for others and never thought of himself, and he was that until the very end,” the agent added.
Eriksson led England to the quarter-finals of the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, and to the 2004 European Championship, managing a golden generation of players, including David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard.
In his native Sweden, where he is known simply as “Svennis”, Eriksson was praised as a great sports leader.
“Svennis was a soccer innovator and a very popular person who maintained his core values despite all his international success,” Sweden’s Minister of Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed said in a post on social media X.
After leaving the England job in 2006, Eriksson coached Manchester City and Leicester City as well as the Mexico and Ivory Coast national sides and clubs in China and the Philippines.
He fulfilled a career ambition to take charge of a Liverpool team at Anfield when he coached the Reds Legends in a charity match in March.
“Rest in peace, Sven-Goran Eriksson. The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Sven’s family and friends at this extremely sad time,” Liverpool said on X.
Following is reaction to the death of former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson aged 76 on Monday, months after the Swede revealed he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
FA CEO MARK BULLINGHAM
“This is a very sad day. He gave all England fans such special memories. No one can ever forget the 5-1 victory in Munich against Germany under Sven’s guidance.
“Sven will be rightly recognised and forever remembered for his significant work with the England team, and for his wider contribution to the game. He will be much missed, and we will pay tribute to him when we play Finland at Wembley next month.”
EUROPEAN SOCCER’S GOVERNING BODY UEFA
“On behalf of the European football community, everybody at UEFA is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Sven Goran Eriksson.
“A beloved figure in the game, Sven was a UEFA Cup winner as coach of IFK Goteborg in 1982 before leading Lazio to the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1999. Rest in peace, Sven.”
ENGLAND NATIONAL TEAM
“We are deeply saddened that Sven-Goran Eriksson, who managed the Three Lions from 2001 to 2006, has passed away aged 76.Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time. Rest in peace, Sven. You will be greatly missed”
PREMIER LEAGUE
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former England and Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson. Our thoughts and condolences are with Sven’s family and friends.”
BRITAIN’S PRINCE WILLIAM
“Sad to hear about the passing of Sven-Goran Eriksson. I met him several times as England manager and was always struck by his charisma and passion for the game. My thoughts are with his family and friends. A true gentleman of the game.”
PREMIER LEAGUE CLUB MANCHESTER CITY
“We would like to express our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Sven-Goran Eriksson, who has passed away at the age of 76. Rest in peace, Sven.”
PREMIER LEAGUE CLUB LIVERPOOL
“Rest in peace, Sven-Goran Eriksson. The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Sven’s family and friends at this extremely sad time.”
Via Reuters
