Former England Manager Sven-Goran Eriksson Dies at Age 76

Sven-Goran Eriksson, the manager who led England’s “golden generation” during the early 2000s, has passed away at the age of 76. Eriksson had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year after experiencing a stroke while running near his home in Sweden. In January, he revealed to a Swedish radio station that he had “at best a year left to live.”

Eriksson gave his final public farewell in an Amazon Prime Video documentary about his life, released on August 23. In it, he expressed a hope that people would remember him as “a positive guy.”

His family confirmed his death on Monday. The illness had compelled him to step back from his role as a sporting director for the Swedish club Karlstad, marking the end of a long, varied, and tremendously successful coaching career across Europe and around the world.

Eriksson’s playing career in Sweden was modest; he described himself as a “distinctly average defender … who rarely made mistakes.” To supplement his income, he taught physical education in schools. He retired in 1973 at the age of 27 and transitioned into coaching under Tord Grip, who later became his assistant with the England national team.

In 1977, Eriksson took over as manager from Grip at the Swedish side Degerfors and led the team to promotion to the Swedish second tier. His success earned him a role at IFK Goteborg, one of Sweden’s top clubs. There, he achieved a famous treble in 1982, winning the Uefa Cup, the Swedish league, and the cup.

Success in Portugal and Italy followed through the 1980s and 1990s. Eriksson earned a reputation for his calm demeanor and tactical savvy, particularly his structured, defense-first style well-suited to Italy’s Serie A. He won three league titles with Benfica and Italian Cups with Roma, Sampdoria, and Lazio. With Lazio, he won the Uefa Cup Winners’ Cup and finally, the Serie A title in 2000, cementing his status as one of the best coaches in world football.

At this time, the English Football Association courted him following the resignation of Kevin Keegan, who struggled to keep England on track for the 2002 World Cup. Eriksson became England’s first foreign manager, a tenure that would define his career.

Under Eriksson, England experienced a mix of highs and disappointments. One of the highlights was thrashing Germany 5-1 in Munich, a game often regarded as England’s greatest since the 1966 World Cup. The team qualified for the 2002 World Cup thanks in part to David Beckham’s famous free-kick against Greece.

However, in three subsequent major tournaments, England’s star-studded squad—featuring Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Paul Scholes, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Michael Owen, and a remarkably talented Wayne Rooney—failed to advance past the quarterfinals. Critics blamed Eriksson for his tactical rigidity, sticking to an unambitious 4-4-2 formation that failed to leverage England’s strengths. The Gerrard-Lampard axis, for instance, never quite gelled.

Eriksson’s tenure coincided with a period when other European nations like Spain and Germany were revolutionizing their play with sophisticated possession-based systems, which would lead to World Cup victories. However, Eriksson was hampered by bad luck as well. Injuries to key players like Beckham and Rooney at crucial moments, Ronaldinho’s memorable goal over David Seaman in 2002, and two penalty shootout losses to Portugal all played a role.

Reflecting on the 2006 World Cup, Eriksson later said, “It could have been possible [to win the World Cup] if [Rooney] hadn’t been sent off. It was a low point for him and me. We thought we had a good chance to reach the final and maybe win it.”

Despite his accomplished career, Eriksson had a contentious relationship with the British media, who were fascinated by his colorful personal life. His managerial stint was further complicated by an undercover sting by the News of the World’s ‘fake sheikh,’ Mazher Mahmood, where Eriksson was recorded making disparaging remarks about England players. This scandal led to the FA announcing his departure after the 2006 World Cup.

Eriksson continued his eclectic managerial career for another decade, coaching Manchester City and Leicester, as well as national teams in Mexico, Ivory Coast, and the Philippines, and several clubs in China.

Returning to Sweden during the pandemic, Eriksson lived and worked in the western Varmland region. Despite his failing health, he retained his optimistic spirit. “I’m not in any major pain,” he said in January. “But I’ve been diagnosed with a disease that you can slow down but you cannot operate.”

Eriksson’s legacy is a blend of high achievements, personal controversies, and enduring popularity. He remained a beloved figure, known for his gentle, jovial nature and an eternally upbeat spirit. As he put it, “See the positive in things. Don’t wallow in adversity, because this is the biggest adversity of course. But make something good out of it.”

Source: “The Independent”