Sven-Goran Eriksson, ex-England manager, dead at 76 after health battle

The first foreign manager of one of Europe’s biggest football teams has tragically died after a battle with cancer.

Ex-England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has died after a battle with cancer. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP)

Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has tragically passed away aged 76 after revealing he had terminal pancreatic cancer.

Eriksson spent five years as the Three Lions’ boss – taking England to the quarter-finals in two World Cups and a European Championship.

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Eriksson, who was in charge of the Three Lions’ Golden Generation, revealed in January he had “at best a year” to live after being diagnosed with cancer.

The Swede’s family confirmed on Monday (AEST) he died in a heartbreaking statement, as The Sun reports.

It read: “Sven-Goran Eriksson has passed away.

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

The Swede became the first foreign manager of the England men’s football team in 2001, coaching the so-called “golden generation” of players including David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard.

Ex-England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has died after a battle with cancer. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP)

Revealing his illness in January, Eriksson told P1: “Everyone understands that I have an illness that is not good.

“Everyone guesses it’s cancer and it is. But I have to fight as long as I can.”

When asked about the prognosis, Eriksson said he has “maybe at best a year, at worst a little less, or at best maybe even longer”.

He added: “You can’t be absolutely sure. It is better not to think about it.

“But you can trick your brain. 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.”

During Eriksson’s time at the helm, England’s “Golden Generation” went from 17th in the world rankings to fifth.

Gregory Vignal celebrates with Eriksson during a Liverpool Legends match in March this year. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

He managed superstars Lampard, Gerrard, Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes, Beckham and Michael Owen.

The team was pinned to bring football home but heartbreakingly crashed out of Germany at the 2006 World Cup in the quarter-finals.

Eriksson later said his biggest regret was deciding against bringing in a mental coach to work with the players after a penalty shootout stumped England’s chances of glory.

After stepping down that year, he went on to manage Manchester City for a year before trying for international glory again at Mexico and Ivory Coast.

Following a spell at Leicester City, the Swede spent four years working in the emerging Chinese Super League.

Eriksson’s final job as Philippines’ national boss ended in 2019, bringing an end to an illustrious managerial career.

Born in Sweden on February 5, 1948, Eriksson also had a modest playing career in the lower echelons of local football.

The young sportsman played most of his career as a right-back for Division 4 outfit Torsby.

Eriksson speaking at the annual Swedish Sports Gala on January 22, 2024. (Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images)

Then, after hanging up his boots at the age of 27, he became the assistant of his long-time collaborator Tord Grip at Degerfors, becoming manager in 1977.

It was that same year that Eriksson married his first wife, Ann-Christine Pettersson, who he had two children with.

The pair spilt in 1994 and in the years that followed, he went on to coach Benfica, Roma, Fiorentina, Sampdoria and Lazio.

Away from the pitch, Eriksson’s love life was put under the spotlight when he met Italian lawyer and TV star Nancy Del’Ollio.

Their romance suffered controversy when it emerged that he had a four-month romance with fellow Swedish celebrity Ulrika Jonsson in 2002.

Two years later Eriksson strayed again, having an affair with Football Association secretary Faria Alam which prompted a FA scandal.

Dell’Olio stayed with the manager, but left him in 2007.

In an interview in 2018, Eriksson said the high-profile of his love life took its toll.

He said: “I thought I was prepared for England but I was not prepared for things outside football, my private life.

“I am not very proud that fans could probably name three of my former girlfriends.

“I don’t think it damaged my football results. But my image outside football it damaged, yes.”

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Sven-Goran Eriksson, ex-England manager, dead at 76 after health battle