Sven-Goran Eriksson dead: Ex-England manager passes away aged 76 after health battle
FORMER England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has tragically passed away aged 76 after revealing he had terminal pancreatic cancer.
Eriksson spent five years as the Three Lions’ boss – taking England to the quarter-finals in two World Cups and a European Championship.
Eriksson, who was in charge of the Three Lions’ Golden Generation, revealed in January he had “at best a year” to live after being diagnosed with cancer.
The Swede’s family confirmed today he died in a heartbreaking statement.
It read: “Sven-Goran Eriksson has passed away.
“After a long illness, SGE died during the morning at home surrounded by family.”
His devastated family have asked for their privacy to be respected so they can mourn in private.
The Swede became the first foreign manager of the England men’s football team in 2001, coaching the likes of David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard.
Eriksson left the England role after the 2006 World Cup and would later manage Mexico and the Ivory Coast, as well as English clubs Manchester City and Leicester City.
Due to his health issues, he stepped down as sporting director at Swedish club Karlstad in February 2023.
After announcing his cancer diagnosis, Eriksson was granted his lifelong wish when he led out Liverpool Legends, as they played in a charity match against Ajax at Anfield in March.
Revealing his illness in January, Eriksson told P1: “Everyone understands that I have an illness that is not good.
“Everyone guesses it’s cancer and it is. But I have to fight as long as I can.”
When asked about the prognosis, Eriksson said he has “maybe at best a year, at worst a little less, or at best maybe even longer”.
He added: “You can’t be absolutely sure. It is better not to think about it.
“But you can trick your brain. See the positive in things, don’t wallow in adversity, because this is the biggest adversity of course, but make something good out of it.”
During Eriksson’s time at the helm, England’s “Golden Generation” went from 17th in the world rankings to fifth.
He managed superstars Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes, David Beckham and Michael Owen.
The team was pinned to bring football home but heartbreakingly crashed out of Germany at the 2006 World Cup in the quarter finals.
Eriksson later said his biggest regret was deciding against bringing in a mental coach to work with the players after a penalty shootout stumped England’s chances of glory.
After stepping down that year, he and went on to manage Manchester City for a year before trying for international glory again at Mexico and Ivory Coast.
Following a spell at Leicester City, the Swede spent four years working in the emerging Chinese Super League.
Eriksson’s final job as Philippines’ national boss ended 2019 – bringing an end to an illustrious managerial career.
Born in Sweden on February 5, 1948, Erkisson also had a modest playing career in the lower echelons of local football.
The young sportsman played most of his career as a right-back for Division 4 outfit Torsby.
The 76-year-old has now seen his life chronicled in a documentary for Amazon Prime Video.
Sven gave a final message to former players, coaches and supporters after speaking openly about his affairs and life in the film.
In a touching clip at the end of the documentary, Sven told viewers: “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.”
The film then pans back to Sven in his home, with the former England manager concluding his message with “bye”.
LIFE OUTSIDE FOOTBALL
Then, after hanging up his boots at the age of 27, he became the assistant of his long-time collaborator Tord Grip at Degerfors, becoming manager in 1977.
It was that same year that Eriksson married his first wife, Ann-Christine Pettersson, who he has two children with.
The pair spilt in 1994, an in the years that followed, he went on to coach Benfica, Roma, Fiorentina, Sampdoria and Lazio.
Away from the pitch, Eriksson’s love life was put under the spotlight when he met Italian lawyer and TV star Nancy Del’Ollio.
Their romance suffered controversy when it emerged that he had a four-month romance with fellow Swedish celebrity Ulrika Jonsson in 2002.
Two years later Eriksson strayed again, having an affair with Football Association secretary Faria Alam which prompted a FA scandal.
Dell’Olio stayed with the manager, but left him in 2007.
In an interview in 2018, Eriksson said the high-profile of his love life took its toll.
He said: “I thought I was prepared for England but I was not prepared for things outside football, my private life.
“I am not very proud that fans could probably name three of my former girlfriends.
“I don’t think it damaged my football results. But my image outside football it damaged, yes.”