Legendary England football manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has died at the age of 76 after a long battle with illness.
The Swedish icon, who made history as the first non-British manager of the England national team, led the Three Lions to the quarter-finals at three major tournaments during his five-year spell in charge between 2001 and 2006.
In January 2024, Eriksson courageously shared his terminal cancer diagnosis, sparking an outpouring of support from the football community and beyond.
All you need to know about Sven-Goran Eriksson
Sven-Goran Eriksson was a Swedish football manager and player. He was born on the 5th of February and passed away on 26th of August.
His family
Eriksson is survived by his two children Johan and Lina who he shared with his ex-wife Ann-Christine Pettersson, and his partner Yaniseth del Carmen Bravo Mendoza.
Sven-Goran Eriksson Illustrious managerial career span over four decades
After hanging up his boots at 27, Sven-Goran Eriksson embarked on a remarkable managerial journey, spanning 12 clubs and three national teams across Europe and beyond.
His illustrious career was marked by numerous triumphs, including 18 trophies won with esteemed clubs like Gothenburg, Benfica, Lazio, and Roma.
Eriksson’s managerial journey began in 1977 with Degerfors, followed by successes with Gothenburg, where he claimed the Swedish title, two Swedish cups, and the 1982 UEFA Cup.
He went on to manage Manchester City, Leicester, and Lazio, Benfica, Roma, Fiorentina, Sampdoria, and Lazio among others, winning seven trophies, including the Serie A title, two Italian Cups, and the European Cup Winners’ Cup.
In addition to his club management, Eriksson had stints as national team manager for Mexico, Ivory Coast, and the Philippines.
However, Eriksson stepped down as sporting director at Karlstad in February 2023 due to his health issues.
After revealing his cancer diagnosis, Eriksson’s lifelong dream came true as he captained the Liverpool Legends in March. Liverpool Legends defeated Ajax 4-2 in a charity match at Anfield.
Following his diagnosis, he spent the year visiting former clubs, including Lazio and Sampdoria, reminiscing about his remarkable career.
Sven-Goran Eriksson’s six-year stint as England manager was marked by both triumph and turmoil
England appointed Eriksson in January 2001 and he wasted no time to revitalize the team’s 2002 World Cup qualifying campaign. He secured a spot in the tournament with a memorable 5-1 win over Germany in Munich.
Under Eriksson’s leadership, England showed prominence, defeating Argentina 1-0 in the group stage and reaching the quarterfinals, where they fell to eventual champions Brazil.
Similar success followed at Euro 2004, with England reaching the last eight before being eliminated by hosts Portugal on penalties.
However, Eriksson’s tenure was also marred by controversy. His private life was subject to intense scrutiny, with high-profile affairs with Ulrika Jonsson and Faria Alam making headlines in 2002 and 2004, respectively.
In January 2006, it was announced that Eriksson would leave his position after the upcoming World Cup, despite having two years remaining on his contract.
England went on to reach the quarterfinals once more under Eriksson’s guidance but were again eliminated by Portugal on penalties. Despite the controversies, Eriksson’s legacy as England manager remains complex, marked by both impressive performances and off-field scandals.
Sven-Goran Eriksson’s final word: “Remember me as a good man”
In a heartfelt and introspective moment, the late Sven-Goran Eriksson shared his hopes for how he would be remembered, saying, “Hopefully, at the end, people will say, ‘yeah, he was a good man’.”
In the Amazon Prime documentary, the renowned former England manager Eriksson reflected on mortality, acknowledging the fear of death, but emphasizing the importance of accepting it.
He said: “I had a good life. I think we are all scared of the day when we die, but life is about death as well.”
“You have to learn to accept it for what it is. Hopefully, at the end people will say, ‘yeah, he was a good man’, but everyone will not say that.”
“I hope you will remember me as a positive guy trying to do everything he could do.”
With characteristic warmth and humility, Eriksson addressed his loved ones, colleagues, and fans, saying: “Don’t be sorry, smile. Thank you for everything… it’s been fantastic. Take care of yourself and take care of your life. And live it. Bye.”
We at futballnews express our deep condolences to the family of the deceased and the entire football world for the loss of a great football manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson.
