Former England Manager; Sven-Goran Eriksson Passes Away

Former England manager; Sven-Goran Eriksson has died at the age of 76.

Eriksson; the first non-British manager of the England team, took charge of the Three Lions for five years, from 2001 to 2006, and guided them to the quarterfinals of three major championships.

Eriksson announced in January that he had “at best” a year to live following his cancer diagnosis. Before taking on the England position in 2001, Eriksson, a charismatic coach who guided Swedish, Portuguese, and Italian teams to significant championships in the 1980s and 1990s, declared earlier this year that he was terminally sick with pancreatic cancer.

During the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, as well as the 2004 European Championship, Eriksson guided England to the quarterfinals. Among the players he managed were David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney, and Steven Gerrard.

His children, “Our father Sven-Goran Eriksson fell asleep peacefully in his home at Bjorkefors outside Sunne this morning. He has for a long time fought bravely with his illness, but now it has come to an end.

“Dad told us at the beginning of this year about his serious illness and received an amazing response from friends and football fans around Europe.

“He was invited to several football teams in England, Italy, Portugal and Sweden. They shared their love for football and dad.

“It was unforgettable for both him and us. He expressed his appreciation and joy and stated that such beautiful words are usually only uttered when someone has died.

“We hope that you will remember Svennis as the good and positive person he always was both in public and at home with us.”

The Swede won 18 trophies while managing 12 teams, including Lazio, Manchester City, Leicester, and Roma. Eriksson also held leadership positions in the Philippines, Ivory Coast, and Mexico. Eriksson started his managing career with Degerfors in 1977 after he had retired from playing at the age of 27.

He later joined Gothenburg, a Swedish team, where he won the 1982 Uefa Cup, two Swedish cups, and the Swedish championship.

After that, he enjoyed two stints as a manager for Italian teams Roma, Fiorentina, Sampdoria, and Lazio. During his time there, he won seven trophies, including the European Cup Winners’ Cup, two Italian Cups, and the Serie A championship.

Eriksson visited a number of his previous clubs over the year after receiving his diagnosis, including Lazio and Sampdoria.

Eriksson, who was a lifetime Liverpool supporter, assisted in leading a Liverpool Legends squad that defeated an Ajax Legends team 4-2 at Anfield in March.

His latest documentary, “Sven,” was published earlier this month, and it ended with a moving message from him.

He stated: “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.”

May he continue to rest in peace, Amen.