Sven-Göran Eriksson, England’s first foreign manager and a multiple club-level winner, has died at 76.
Sven-Göran Eriksson announced in January 2024 that he had terminal cancer and was given about a year to live. He had stepped down from his last job as sporting director at Karlstad in Sweden the previous February due to “health issues under investigation.”
Eriksson passed away at home on Monday morning, surrounded by his family. His death was confirmed by his agent Bo Gustavsson and UK PR agent Dean Eldredge. The family has asked for privacy during this time.
Eriksson had a successful career in football spanning over 40 years and won 18 trophies. His career began in Sweden with Degerfors IF and then IFK Göteborg. At 30, Eriksson led Göteborg to win the Swedish title and the UEFA Cup in 1982.
He then managed Benfica, where he won two league titles and reached a UEFA Cup final in 1983. Although Benfica lost to Anderlecht, Eriksson’s reputation continued to grow.
Eriksson went on to manage Roma and Fiorentina, then returned to Benfica in 1989, winning another league title and reaching a European Cup final in 1990, where they lost to Milan.
He moved to Sampdoria, leading them to a Coppa Italia victory in 1994, and then to Lazio. At Lazio, backed by the club’s wealthy president Sergio Cragnotti, Eriksson led the team to a Serie A title in 2000, marking only the second time Lazio had won Italy’s top league.
Sven-Göran Eriksson’s England Tenure Marked by Success and Controversy
By the time Sven-Göran Eriksson was appointed as England’s manager in January 2001, he was one of the top football managers in Europe. His appointment was controversial because he was the first foreign manager for England. The media criticized the decision, with the Daily Mail calling it a mistake and The Sun describing it as a “terrible, pathetic, self-inflicted indictment.”
Eriksson handled the criticism calmly and started his tenure with a 3-0 victory over Spain in February 2001. The highlight of his time with England was a 5-1 win over Germany in Munich, which was described as “ecstasy in spades” by David Lacey in the Guardian.
England needed a 2-2 draw with Greece in October 2001 to qualify for the World Cup the next summer. Around this time, it was revealed that Eriksson had an affair with TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson, which drew media attention.
Despite criticism that he did not fully utilize England’s talented squad, Eriksson led the team to the quarter-finals in three major tournaments. He left his position after the 2006 World Cup following a tabloid sting where he was caught discussing a potential move to Aston Villa if they were bought by a Middle Eastern investor. Before the World Cup ended, it was announced Eriksson would leave, regardless of England’s performance.
Eriksson later commented that the real issue was how the media mixed his personal life with his professional career, which he felt was very unfair.
Sven-Göran Eriksson: England’s Controversial First Foreign Manager Who Achieved Success Despite Media Scrutiny
Eriksson managed several teams and countries over the years, including Manchester City, Leicester, Mexico, and finally the Philippines in 2019. In March 2024, he fulfilled a childhood dream by managing Liverpool in a charity game at Anfield, calling it a “beautiful day.”
Before he passed away, a documentary about Eriksson’s life, titled ‘Sven’, was available on Amazon Prime. In it, Eriksson shared a heartfelt message that reflected his positive spirit. He said, “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.”
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