Former England manager Eriksson dies aged 76

Sven-Goran Eriksson, a former manager of England, pass away at the age of 76. Eriksson is the first non-British manager of the England team. He took charge of the Three Lions from 2001 to 2006, and guide them to the quarterfinals of three major championships.

Eriksson announce in January that he was given “at best” a year to live following his cancer diagnosis. The closest mourners are daughter Lina; son Johan with wife Amana and granddaughter Sky. “The family asks for respect for their wish to mourn in private and not be contacted.”

Following his diagnosis, Eriksson spends the year visiting some of his former clubs, including Lazio and Sampdoria. A poignant message is shared at the end of his new documentary ‘Sven’. It was released earlier this month.

In the closing scene of the Amazon film, Eriksson says: “I had a good life. I think we are all scared of the day when it is finished – when we die.

“But life is about death as well. You have to learn to accept it for what it is. Hopefully at the end, people will say: ‘Yeah, he was a good man.’ But everyone will not say that. I hope you will remember me as a positive guy trying to do everything he could do.

“Don’t be sorry, smile. Thank you for everything – coaches, players, the crowds. It has been fantastic. Take care of yourself and your life and live it. Bye.”

Football Association (FA) chief executive officer Mark Bullingham said: “This is a very sad day. He gave all England fans such special memories. No one can ever forget the 5-1 victory in Munich against Germany under Sven’s guidance.

“Sven will be rightly recognized and forever remembered for his significant work with the England team, and for his wider contribution to the game.”

Eriksson joined the England team following a fruitful tenure as manager of Lazio in Italy. They won the 1999–2000 Serie A championship which happened to be their second and only ever Scudetto victory. In the 1980s, he won multiple titles with Benfica. He also manage Fiorentina, Sampdoria, Manchester City, and Leicester City.

The former England manager held positions as a manager in Mexico, Ivory Coast, and the Philippines abroad. He departs from the latter in 2019. He won eighteen trophies as a manager of twelve clubs, including Lazio, Manchester City, Leicester, and Roma.