Former England Manager Sven-Göran Eriksson Dies at 76

Former England Manager Sven-Göran Eriksson Dies at 76

Sven-Göran Eriksson, former England national football team manager, has passed away at the age of 76. His official website confirmed his death on Monday morning, stating that he was surrounded by his family at the time.

The Swedish football legend had been battling cancer and was widely known for becoming the first foreign manager of England, leading the team from 2001 to 2006. During his tenure, Eriksson managed 67 matches, guiding the national side to the quarter-finals of three major tournaments, including the 2002 and 2006 World Cups.

Eriksson’s distinguished coaching career also saw significant success in club football, particularly in Italy with Lazio, where he won the Serie A title in 1999-2000 and the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup the previous season. His management stints also included roles at Manchester City, Leicester City, and the Ivory Coast national team, which he led to the 2010 World Cup.

Eriksson’s achievements extended across Europe, having won multiple league titles with Benfica and UEFA Cup glory with Gothenburg in 1982. His legacy as one of football’s most prominent managers remains deeply respected across the sport.

His life and career were recently captured in an Amazon Prime documentary, where Eriksson reflected on his legacy, saying, “I hope you will remember me as a positive guy trying to do everything he could.”

Football fans and former players alike paid tribute to Eriksson. The England fans’ group, Free Lions, expressed their gratitude on social media, recalling England’s 5-1 victory over Germany in 2001, one of the most memorable moments of his managerial career.

Mark Bullingham, chief executive of the Football Association, described Eriksson as a key figure in England’s football history, saying, “Sven will be rightly remembered for