Former England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson has died at the age of 76.
Eriksson, who was the first non-British manager of the England national team, led the Three Lions to the quarter-finals in three major tournaments during his five-year tenure from 2001 to 2006.
He had been battling cancer and had earlier announced that he had “at best” a year to live.
His children, Lina and Johan, released a statement saying: “Our father, Sven-Göran Eriksson, passed away peacefully at his home in Bjorkefors outside Sunne this morning. He fought bravely against his illness, but it has now come to an end.”
They added that Eriksson had received an outpouring of support from friends and football fans across Europe, with invitations from several football teams in England, Italy, Portugal, and Sweden.
Eriksson’s career spanned managing 12 clubs, including Manchester City, Leicester, Roma, and Lazio, where he won 18 trophies. He also managed national teams such as Mexico, Ivory Coast, and the Philippines.
Starting his managerial career with Degerfors in 1977, Eriksson went on to achieve significant success with Gothenburg, Benfica, Roma, Fiorentina, Sampdoria, and Lazio.
After his diagnosis, he visited several of his former clubs and made a notable appearance with Liverpool Legends in March.
In his recent documentary, Eriksson shared a reflective message, saying: “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.”
