SVEN-GORAN ERIKSSON has died aged 76 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
The former England manager revealed in January that he had the terminal illness and publicly spoke about his diagnosis and life in a recently released documentary on Amazon Prime.
The Swede, who also managed Man City and Leicester City, enjoyed a long career in management that started in 1977 and ended 42 years later with a spell in charge of the Philppines.
Tributes from the football world and beyond are now pouring in for the manager.
Read our blog for the latest updates and tributes to Sven-Goran Eriksson…
‘Eternally grateful’
Former West Ham and Man City winger Trevor Sinclair was one of the first ex-footballers to send his condolences to the Swede.
Eriksson handed Sinclair his England debut in 2001.
Gutted & eternally grateful 💔 RIP Sven pic.twitter.com/k0ZV1Vn8e6— Trevor Sinclair (@trevor8sinclair) August 26, 2024
Children pay tribute
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,” Gustavsson told Reuters.
“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.
His two children, Lina and Johan Eriksson, thanked all those who had supported their father who they said had been deeply moved by the warm words he had received.
Tottenham Hotspur and Everton join tributes to Sven
Leicester, Chelsea and West Ham join in with tributes
‘A beloved figure in the game’
UEFA has joined in with tributes for Sven-Goran Eriksson with a touching statement on X, formerly Twitter.
Prince William pays tribute to ‘true gentleman’ Sven
In an emotional statement, Prince William says he was “always struck by his charisma and passion for the game”.
‘One of the very best’
England legend Michael Owen pays tribute to Sven.
‘You will be greatly missed’
The official England account has posted a tribute to Sven, who managed the Three Lions from 2001-2006.
Full post, below.
‘Extremely sad time’
Fans got one last chance to meet Sven when he achieved a lifetime’s ambition in being the manager of Liverpool in a charity ‘legends’ match with Ajax in March.
Man City pays tribute
In a statement, the club said it would like to express sincere condolences to his family and friends.
Sampdoria and Lazio
Sven’s nomadic career took him back to Italy, first with Sampdoria where he signed English stars such as Des Walker and David Platt.
He led the club during one of the most successful periods of their history, winning the Coppa Italia in 1994 – which remains the last time they won a major trophy.
It turned out to be the longest single tenure of his career, with the Swede taking charge of 198 matches in five years before a move to Lazio.
It was during his next role at Lazio that he caught the eye of the Football Association.
He won the Coppa Italia and reached the final of the Uefa Cup in his first season, won the Cup Winners’ Cup in his second and then deliver a league and Cup Double in 1999-2000.
They haven’t won one since and it was midway through the next season where he was appointed manager of the Three Lions.
Sven-Goran Eriksson had a hugely successful spell in charge of Lazio, winning the league and cup Double in 2001 – the last time the Italian club lifted the title Prime Minister passes on his condolences
“Deeply saddened to hear that Sven-Goran Eriksson has passed away,” says Sir Keir Starmer.
Roma, Fiorentina and back to Benfica
A spell in Italy did not bring as much success as he would have hoped.
In three seasons in Italy, Sven won just one trophy, the 1986 Coppa Italia, finishing runner-up in the same season.
However, they were book-ended by two seventh-placed finishes, before he left for Fiorentina in 1987.
Eighth and seventh-place finishes saw Sven then return to Benfica and the good times returned.
In three seasons from 1989 to 1992 he finished second twice and delivered another league titles – although failed to replicate any European success.
Another return to Italy was then on the cards with Sampdoria.
Portugal
After his Treble winning season, Eriksson first moved to Portugal, rocking up at Benfica and winning two league titles in two seasons as well as reaching the final of the Uefa Cup again – although Benfica would lose to Anderlecht in the final.
The Portuguese giants also reached the semi-final of the European Cup, with Eriksson then moving to Serie A which, at the time, was the biggest and most lucrative league in the world.
Sven’s managerial career
Sven-Goran Eriksson enjoyed a 42-year managerial that spanned five countries and four spells in charge of national teams.
After his playing career was cut short at the age of 27, Sven first became assistant to Tord Grip – who would later be his assistant with England – at Degrfors IF in 1976.
A year later he got the top job, which lasted a year, before a hugely successful spell with IFK Goteborg, making his name while winning four major trophies including the Swedish league title and the 1982 Uefa Cup, upsetting German giants Hamburg in the final.
Sven-Goran Eriksson held aloft by IFK Goteborg players after winning the Swedish Cup in 1982 – part of a Treble that season that included the Uefa Cup ‘I had a good life’
On his Amazon Prime documentary, Sven, which was released over the weekend, the former England boss delivered a poignant message.
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. Don’t be sorry, smile.
“Thank you for everything, coaches, players, the crowds, it’s been fantastic.
“Take care of yourself and take care of your life. And live it. Bye.”
Credit: Amazon Prime ‘Eternally grateful’
Former West Ham and Man City winger Trevor Sinclair was one of the first ex-footballers to send his condolences to the Swede.
Eriksson handed Sinclair his England debut in 2001.
Tributes flood in
Prince William led tributes for the former Three Lions boss.
A statement on social media read: “Sad to hear about the passing of Sven-Göran 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. W”
RIP Sven
Sven-Goran Eriksson has died after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
The former England boss, who also had spells in charge of Manchester City and Leicester City, had revealed his terminal diagnosis earlier this year.
Credit: AP
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
