Sven-Goran Eriksson, the Swedish soccer manager who spent five years as England’s first ever foreign-born coach, died Monday. He was 76.
Sven-Goran Eriksson, the Swedish soccer manager who spent five years as England’s first ever foreign-born coach after making his name winning trophies at club level in Italy, Portugal and Sweden, died Monday. He was 76.
Eriksson died at home surrounded by his family, his agent Bo Gustavsson told The Associated Press.
His death followed eight months after he revealed he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had at most one year to live.
That news led to Eriksson receiving a surge of affection and tributes from his former players and clubs, a biographical documentary being made and a visit to his favorite club Liverpool, which invited him to be manager for the day at a charity game.
Fondly known as “Svennis” in his native Sweden, Eriksson had a modest, nine-year playing career before retiring at the age of 27 and embarking on what proved to be a nomadic coaching career that reached its peak when he was hired by England in 2001.
Eriksson led what was regarded as a “golden generation” of players, including David Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney, at the World Cups in 2002 and 2006 and got the team to the quarterfinals at both tournaments before elimination by Brazil and Portugal, respectively.
