Former England soccer coach Sven-Goran Eriksson dies at age 76

STOCKHOLM – Sven-Goran Eriksson, the charismatic Swedish football manager known for being the first foreigner to lead the England national team, passed away on Monday at the age of 76.

Eriksson had announced in January that he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

“After a long illness, SGE died during the morning at home surrounded by family,” his family confirmed in a statement.

Widely considered the greatest Swedish manager, Eriksson secured major titles in Sweden, Portugal, and Italy before steering England in three major tournaments during the early 2000s.

After a modest playing career, Eriksson achieved international acclaim by leading Swedish club IFK Gothenburg to a UEFA Cup victory in 1982, making them the only Swedish team to win a European trophy.

Greatly influenced by English football of the 1970s and 80s, Eriksson adopted a pragmatic playing style and primarily used a 4-4-2 formation. Known for his tactical acumen, he considered his greatest strength to be his ability to build teams with strong characters.

“The group is the most important thing. Not only the players, but their families as well. The whole club, including the masseurs and the kitchen staff, we are all one group,” Eriksson emphasized.

When Eriksson arrived at Lazio in 1997, he requested the club president to sell the club captain and star player Giuseppe Signori, citing a negative influence on the group.

“He didn’t have the right attitude, he had been at the club for a long time and was too negative,” Eriksson explained. “Instead, I brought in great players like Juan Sebastian Veron and Roberto Mancini, who were hungry and professional.”

Initially, Lazio fans were furious with Eriksson’s decision and stormed the training facility. However, within six months, Eriksson had changed the atmosphere and eventually led the club to win seven trophies, including their second Italian league title.

Mancini, who shared a close bond with Eriksson at Fiorentina and Lazio, and who later managed Manchester City and Italy, remarked that Eriksson had become like a father to him.

“Or bigger brother, I should perhaps say, to not insult him,” Mancini added.

Eriksson became England manager in 2001. When asked about being the first non-Briton to lead the team, he smiled and said, “not bad.”

This response highlighted why he was nicknamed “the rubber wall” in Italy for his ability to absorb but not react to media provocation. This trait served him well dealing with the English football press and made him popular among players.

Nine months after his appointment, Eriksson silenced critics with a stunning 5-1 World Cup qualifying win over Germany.

Managing a golden generation of players, such as David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney, and Steven Gerrard, Eriksson led England to the 2002 World Cup, where they lost to Brazil in the quarterfinals.

England also qualified for the 2004 European Championship and the 2006 World Cup but were eliminated in the quarterfinals after penalty shootout defeats by Portugal in both tournaments.

Over the years, Eriksson’s relationship with the press deteriorated. His tumultuous personal life made headlines, and he was embroiled in a sting operation, revealing he would leave England for Aston Villa ahead of the 2006 World Cup.

After disclosing his terminal cancer diagnosis in January, Eriksson received warm receptions at many of his former clubs. He even led Liverpool in a charity match, fulfilling a lifelong dream.

Beckham, Eriksson’s former England captain, visited him in Sweden, and many former players sent public messages.

“He’s probably the most humane coach I have had,” Rooney stated in a documentary about Eriksson.

Source: USA TODAY