Swedish football manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who coached the England national team from 2001 to 2006, passed on Monday at the age of 76 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, his agent announced.
“He passed away peacefully this morning at his home, surrounded by his family,” Eriksson’s agent, Bo Gustavsson, told AFP.
Eriksson, a Swede known for managing several high-profile football teams and leading England to the World Cup quarter-finals in both 2002 and 2006, revealed in February 2023 that he was retiring from public life due to “health issues.”
In January, he disclosed to public broadcaster Sveriges Radio that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and his doctors had estimated he had “at best maybe a year (to live), at worst a little less.”
“We were aware of his condition, but it progressed very quickly. We were not prepared for it to happen today,” Gustavsson told AFP.
Born on February 5, 1948, in Sunne, western Sweden, Eriksson, affectionately known as “Svennis” in Sweden, made his mark as a football manager after retiring from a modest playing career as a defender.
In 1977, Eriksson began his managerial career with Swedish club Degerfors IF. After leading the small club to success in the lower divisions, he caught the attention of more prominent teams.
He went on to manage IFK Goteborg in Sweden before achieving international success with Benfica in Portugal and several Italian clubs, including Roma and Lazio.
Eriksson’s most notable role was as the first foreign manager of England’s national team.
During his tenure, Eriksson guided England to the World Cup quarter-finals in 2002, where they were eliminated by Brazil.
The team also reached the quarter-finals four years later, losing to Portugal in a penalty shootout after Wayne Rooney was sent off following an altercation with his Manchester United teammate, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Under Eriksson’s leadership, England also reached the last eight of the 2004 European Championships, where they were again defeated by Portugal in a penalty shootout.
He stepped down as England manager in 2006 after five years at the helm.
Eriksson’s time in charge was marked by memorable moments, including a 5-1 victory over Germany in a World Cup qualifier, as well as controversies related to his personal life.
Following his time with England, Eriksson went on to manage several other national teams, including Mexico, Ivory Coast, and the Philippines.
