Swedish football supervisor Sven-Goran Eriksson, that trained England from 2001 to 2006, passed away Monday at the age of 76 after a fight with pancreatic cancer cells, his representative claimed.
“He passed away peacefully this morning with his family around him at his home,” Eriksson’s representative Bo Gustavsson informed AFP.
The Swede, that handled a variety of top-level groups and took England to World Cup quarter-finals in 2002 and 2006, revealed in February 2023 that he was going back from public life as a result of “health issues”.
In January, he informed public broadcaster Sveriges Radio that he was dealing with pancreatic cancer cells which his physician’s evaluation was that he had “at best maybe a year (to live), at worst a little less”.
“He has for a long time fought bravely with his illness, but now it came to an end,” his youngsters Lina and Johan Eriksson claimed in a declaration.
After he made his disease public, he obtained “an amazing response from friends and football fans around Europe”, they claimed, including that he was welcomed to check out groups in England, Italy, Portugal and Sweden where “they shared their love for football and for dad.”
– ‘Been amazing’ –
“I get to hear it while I’m alive and I’m incredibly grateful for that,” Eriksson claimed prior to his passing away.
“I have had the best job in the world and I was happy every day for long periods. It’s been fantastic.”
Born on February 5, 1948 in Sunne in western Sweden, Eriksson, that passed “Svennis” to Swedes, discovered success as a football supervisor after relinquishing a small job as a protector.
In 1977, he ended up being supervisor of Swedish club Degerfors IF. After leading the little club to success in reduced departments, he drew in the focus of larger clubs.
He took place to handle Sweden’s IFK Goteborg prior to emigrating to Benfica in Portugal and a number of Italian groups, consisting of Roma and Lazio.
“Thank you for everything you have done for us, coach,” Lazio claimed in an article to social networks.
His most top-level setting was as the very first immigrant to handle England’s nationwide team.
During his spell, he took England to the World Cup quarter-finals in 2002, where they were knocked senseless by Brazil.
They additionally made the last 8 4 years later on where Portugal triumphed in a fine combat in a video game where Wayne Rooney was sent after an encounter his after that Manchester United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo.
Eriksson led England to the last 8 of the 2004 Euros where Portugal additionally knocked them out in one more fine combat.
He left the England work in 2006 after 5 years accountable.
– ‘Absolutely stunning’ –
“This is a very sad day. He gave all England fans such special memories,” Mark Bullingham, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER of England’s Football Association, claimed in a declaration.
“Sven will be rightly recognised and forever remembered for his significant work with the England team, and for his wider contribution to the game,” Bullingham proceeded.
The FA will certainly commemorate the previous supervisor when England plays Finland at London’s Wembley Stadium on September 10, Bullingham claimed.
Britain’s Prince William, that claimed he satisfied Eriksson a number of times while head of state of the English Football Association, claimed he “was always struck by his charisma and passion for the game”.
“My thoughts are with his family and friends. A true gentleman of the game,” he claimed in an article to X.
Swedish leading organization groups were to use black armbands in their suits today, and various other homages remained in the drawing board, Swedish information company TT claimed.
After England, Eriksson took place to handle Mexico, Ivory Coast and the Philippines, however never ever his indigenous Sweden’s nationwide team.
In March, he met his life-long imagine handling English club Liverpool.
Alongside previous favourites Ian Rush, John Barnes and John Aldridge in the home dug-out, he handled Liverpool Legends in a charity suit versus Ajax Legends, supervising a 4-2 win for his group.
Eriksson claimed after that he had actually dropped splits prior to kick-off, when he obtained an applause from the group as he left onto the pitch, with followers singing the Liverpool anthem of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’.
“That will be a huge memory in life,” Eriksson claimed. “Absolutely beautiful.”
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