Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson dies at 76 after battle with cancer
Former England football manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has died at the age of 76 from pancreatic cancer.
The Swedish national coach, who said in January he had “a year at best” to live after his diagnosis, became the first foreigner to manage the England national team in 2001.
Eriksson led the team to the quarter-finals of the 2002 and 2006 World Cups and to the 2004 European Championship.
He was the manager of a golden generation of players including David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard.
Eriksson also led Swedish, Portuguese and Italian clubs to major trophies in the 1980s and 1990s before taking the England job.
Bo Gustavsson, an agent in Sweden who worked with Eriksson, said in a statement issued today: “Sven-Goran Eriksson has passed away.
Sven-Goran Eriksson in a recent Amazon Prime documentary about his life, titled ‘Sven’
Sven-Goran Eriksson with his partner Yaniseth Alcides in Stockholm, Sweden, on January 22
Sven-Goran Eriksson next to England’s Wayne Rooney at the 2006 World Cup in Germany
Sven-Goran Eriksson at a match between Liverpool and Ajax Legends at Anfield on March 23
Sven-Goran Eriksson with Steve McClaren and Tord Grip in Munich in September 2001
Prince William speaks with England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson on the team bus in June 2006
Sven-Goran Eriksson speaks to then Prime Minister Tony Blair at Downing Street in 2006
Sven-Goran Eriksson at a match between Liverpool and Ajax Legends at Anfield on March 23
Sven-Goran Eriksson speaks with captain David Beckham during Euro 2004 in Lisbon, Portugal
‘After a long illness, SGE passed away this morning at home, surrounded by his family.
The next of kin are daughter Lina, son Johan with his wife Amana and granddaughter Sky, father Sven, girlfriend Yanisette with his son Alcides, brother Lars-Erik with his wife Jumnong.
“The family asks that their wish to mourn in private and not be contacted be respected. Condolences and greetings can be left on the website www.svengoraneriksson.com.”
More to come
