Swedish soccer supervisor Sven-Goran Eriksson, who led England from 2001 to 2006, handed away Monday at 76 after a battle with pancreatic most cancers, his agent confirmed.
“He passed away peacefully this morning with his family around him at his home,” Eriksson’s agent, Bo Gustavsson, instructed Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The Swede, who managed a number of high-profile groups and guided England to the World Cup quarterfinals in 2002 and 2006, introduced in February 2023 that he was stepping again from public life as a result of “health issues.”
In January, he instructed public broadcaster Sveriges Radio that he was affected by pancreatic most cancers and that his physician’s evaluation was that he had “at best maybe a year (to live), at worst a little less.”
“We had known about this but it happened very quickly. We were not prepared for it to happen today,” Gustavsson instructed AFP.
Born on Feb. 5, 1948, in Sunne, western Sweden, Eriksson, often known as “Svennis” in Sweden, achieved success as a soccer supervisor after retiring from a modest profession as a defender.
In 1977, he grew to become the supervisor of the Swedish membership Degerfors IF. After main the small membership to success in decrease divisions, he attracted the eye of larger golf equipment. He went on to handle Sweden’s IFK Goteborg earlier than discovering success internationally with Benfica in Portugal and a number of other Italian groups, together with Roma and Lazio.
His most high-profile place was as the primary foreigner to handle England’s nationwide crew. During his tenure, he led England to the World Cup quarterfinals in 2002, the place they had been eradicated by Brazil.
Four years later, England reached the quarterfinals once more however misplaced to Portugal in a penalty shootout, a match notable for Wayne Rooney’s pink card after a conflict along with his then-Manchester United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.
Eriksson additionally guided England to the final eight of the 2004 European Championship, the place they had been once more knocked out by Portugal in one other penalty shootout. He left the England job in 2006 after 5 years in cost.
His tenure included a memorable 5-1 win over Germany in a World Cup qualifier but additionally some controversy over his private life. “This is a very sad day. He gave all England fans such special memories,” Mark Bullingham, CEO of England’s Football Association, mentioned in a press release.
“Sven will be rightly recognized and forever remembered for his significant work with the England team and his broader contribution to the game,” Bullingham continued. Eriksson went on to handle Mexico, Ivory Coast, and the Philippines however by no means his native Sweden’s nationwide crew.
In March, Eriksson fulfilled what he mentioned had been a lifelong dream of managing English soccer membership Liverpool. Alongside former Liverpool favorites Ian Rush, John Barnes, and John Aldridge, he managed Liverpool Legends in a charity match towards Ajax Legends, overseeing a 4-2 win for his crew.
Eriksson mentioned afterward he had shed tears earlier than kick-off when he acquired a standing ovation from the gang as he walked onto the pitch, with followers singing Liverpool’s anthem, “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” “That will be a huge memory in my life,” Eriksson mentioned. “Absolutely beautiful.”
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