Former England Football Manager Dies at 76

Sven-Goran Eriksson died Monday morning aged 76, his family in Sweden has confirmed.

The former England football manager had announced a year prior that he had been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer.

Eriksson, who was England’s first non-English national team manager when he was appointed in 2001, experienced both triumphs and tribulations in his five-year tenure. Despite overseeing England’s historic victory over Germany in 2001, he faced criticism for not harnessing the talents of his squad, which included Wayne Rooney and David Beckham, to secure any international silverware.

Off the pitch, his private life generated more tabloid headlines than any other football manager in British history. His affairs with TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson and Football Association secretary Faria Alam kept him in the public eye. Although his tenure ended due to financial controversies rather than his personal life, it was his lucrative dealings with rival team bosses that ultimately led to his dismissal.

In an intimate documentary titled Sven released only last week on Amazon Prime, Eriksson looked back on his life with impressive equanimity. He reflected simply: “Life goes on.” He appeared equally calm about his failing health, sharing on camera: “I have had a good life. Smile.”