Ex-England and Manchester City manager Sven-Göran Eriksson has died aged 76
Former England and Manchester City manager Sven-Göran Eriksson has sadly died following a long battle with illness.
The 76-year-old football coach, who served as the England boss for five years during the nation’s so-called ‘Golden Generation’, had been suffering from terminal cancer and had spent the last few months bidding his farewells to friends, family and the beautiful game.
Eriksson shared his final goodbye message to the media last week in a heartbreaking video, assuring that he “had a good life.”
His passing was confirmed in an official statement on his personal website on Monday, 26 August.
Rest in peace, Sven. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/qPn6JnCvu0
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 26, 2024
The message reads: “After a long illness, SGE died during the morning at home surrounded by family.
The closest mourners are daughter Lina; son Johan with wife Amana and granddaughter Sky; father Sven; girlfriend Yanisette with son Alcides; brother Lars-Erik with wife Jumnong. The family asks for respect for their wish to mourn in private and not be contacted.”
Eriksson revealed his pancreatic cancer diagnosis back in January and had spent months travelling around Europe on his final footballing tour, with a particularly special visit to Anfield back in March.
Figures from around the industry have been paying tribute to the veteran manager and influential sporting mind who also helped develop football culture in China and the Philippines.
You'll undoubtedly know it by now, but I think about this Didi Hamann story on Sven very often. Magnificent. pic.twitter.com/XZq3Yp7Aox
— Daniel Storey (@danielstorey85) August 26, 2024
This is how I will remember Sven. Full of life in the garden of his beautiful, beloved house in Sunne, Sweden, kicking a ball for his happy dog Ame. Privileged to have visited him there. RIP Sven. pic.twitter.com/5dkcU969UP
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) August 26, 2024
We would like to express our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Sven-Goran Eriksson, who has passed away at the age of 76.
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 26, 2024
Rest in peace, Sven. 🩵
As well as managing the Three Lions and some of England‘s greatest-ever players, the Swedish coach also took charge of several other big European clubs throughout his career, including Benfica, Roma, Fiorentina, Sampdoria and Lazio.
He left the England role after the 2006 World Cup before going on to manage Mexico, the Ivory Coast, Man City and Leicester City.
For many fans, he was the first England manager they remember and created some lasting memories that still remind us why we love football to this day.
Rest in peace.
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Featured Images — Amazon Prime (via Screenshot)