Sven-Goran Eriksson dies aged 76 from pancreatic cancer: Prince

Former England football manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has died aged 76 after becoming terminally ill with pancreatic cancer.

The Swede, who said in January that he had ‘best case a year’ to live following his diagnosis, was surrounded by his family as he passed away this morning.

Eriksson became the first foreign manager of the England national team in 2001, taking charge of 67 matches until 2006. He led the talented squad to quarter-finals of the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, and at the 2004 European Championships.

Eriksson also managed Swedish, Portuguese and Italian clubs, winning major trophies in the 1980s and 1990s before taking on the England job.

Football Association patron Prince William today described him as a ‘true gentleman of the game’, adding that he was ‘always struck by his charisma and passion’.

Eriksson’s tenure was remembered almost as much for what happened off the field as on it – after romances with Italian lawyer Nancy Dell’Olio, Swedish TV host Ulrika Jonsson and former FA secretary Faria Alam during his time as England coach.

Sven-Goran Eriksson in a recent Amazon Prime documentary about his life, entitled ‘Sven’

Sven-Goran Eriksson with his partner Yaniseth Alcides in Stockholm, Sweden, on January 22

Sven-Goran Eriksson alongside England’s Wayne Rooney at the 2006 World Cup in Germany

Eriksson managed a ‘golden generation’ of players with England, including David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard .

Sven Goran-Eriksson did not waste time with anger or regret – football made him feel lucky

He returned to the World Cup with Ivory Coast in 2010 and also had spells in charge of Manchester City and Leicester during a lengthy career.

Bo Gustavsson, an agent in Sweden who worked with Eriksson, said in a statement issued today: ‘Sven-Goran Eriksson has passed away.

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

‘The closest mourners are daughter Lina; son Johan with wife Amana and granddaughter Sky; father Sven; girlfriend Yanisette with son Alcides; brother Lars-Erik with wife Jumnong.

‘The family asks for respect for their wish to mourn in private and not be contacted. Condolences and greetings can be left on the website www.svengoraneriksson.com.’

Prince William speaks with England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson on the team bus in June 2006

Sven-Goran Eriksson at a match between Liverpool and Ajax Legends at Anfield on March 23

Sven-Goran Eriksson with Steve McClaren and Tord Grip in Munich in September 2001

Leading the tributes today was the Prince of Wales, who tweeted: ‘Sad to hear about the passing of Sven-Göran Eriksson. I met him several times as England manager and was always struck by his charisma and passion for the game.

Sven Goran-Eriksson’s heartbreaking goodbye message as ex-England boss passes away at the age of 76

‘My thoughts are with his family and friends. A true gentleman of the game. W.’

Eriksson’s life and career is the subject of a new Amazon Prime documentary which was released on Friday.

In it, the Swede talked about how he hoped to be remembered.

‘I hope you will remember me as a positive guy trying to do everything he could do,’ he said.

‘Don’t be sorry, smile. Thank you for everything, coaches, players, the crowds, it’s been fantastic. Take care of yourself and take care of your life. And live it.’

The England fans’ group Free Lions were among the first to pay tribute, posting on X: ‘RIP Sven. For the night in Munich, amongst everything else, thank you for the memories.’

Sven-Goran Eriksson speaks with then-prime minister Tony Blair at Downing Street in 2006

Sven-Goran Eriksson at a match between Liverpool and Ajax Legends at Anfield on March 23

That was a reference to England’s incredible 5-1 victory over Germany in Munich in a World Cup qualifier back in September 2001.

Sven-Goran Eriksson hailed day as Liverpool Legends manager ‘a memory for life’ before his death

After starting his coaching career in his homeland with Degerfors and IFK Gothenburg, Eriksson took over at Benfica in 1982 and led them to three Portuguese top-flight titles and a runners-up finish in the UEFA Cup before guiding Lazio to their second and most recent Serie A triumph in 1999-2000.

Eriksson then became the first foreign-born England manager when he succeeded Kevin Keegan in January 2001, taking charge of the country’s so-called golden generation.

Despite a wealth of talent to call upon including Beckham, Gerrard and Rooney, Eriksson was unable to guide the team beyond the quarter-finals at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups or Euro 2004.

Sven-Goran Eriksson speaks to captain David Beckham during Euro 2004 in Lisbon, Portugal

His globe-trotting career since leaving the England job took in stints at Manchester City and Leicester, plus the Mexico and Ivory Coast national teams, as well as a spell as Notts County’s director of football.

He oversaw the fortunes of Chinese Super League sides Guangzhou R&F, Shanghai SIPG and Shenzhen between 2013 and 2017 and his final managerial post was with the Philippines from October 2018 to January 2019.

He stood down from his most recent role as sporting director at Swedish club Karlstad in February 2023 due to health issues.

After being diagnosed with cancer, Eriksson disclosed he had suffered ‘five strokes in one day – small ones’ but said: ‘My memory is a little worse but otherwise I think I am rather with it.’

Three quarter-finals and 5-1 Germany win: Sven-Goran Eriksson’s England record

Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has died aged 76. Here is a look at the Swede’s record as the first foreign boss to lead the national team:

Eriksson’s England record

Appointed in 2001 as Kevin Keegan’s permanent successor, Eriksson led England to three consecutive quarter-finals at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups and Euro 2004.

He was in charge for 67 games, winning 40 (59.7 per cent) with only 10 defeats, though his 17 draws include games lost on penalties to Portugal at his last two major tournaments.

While Eriksson’s biggest win was 6-0 against Jamaica in a friendly ahead of the 2006 World Cup, by far the most memorable came in only his seventh game in charge as September 2001’s 5-1 success against Germany in Munich proved vital in securing automatic qualification for the following summer’s World Cup on goal difference.

His heaviest defeat was 4-1 in a 2005 friendly against Denmark, while Eriksson lost only three competitive matches in addition to the two Portugal shoot-outs.

Michael Owen was his leading goalscorer with 28, including a hat-trick in that win over Germany. David Beckham scored 16 with Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney the other players to reach double figures under Eriksson. He used 72 players and gave debuts to 41.

How he compares

Eriksson ranks fifth in terms of games as England manager. Walter Winterbottom, appointed in 1946 as England’s first official manager after the pre-war years were overseen by a Football Association committee, tops the list with 139 games.

Two other managers reached a century, World Cup winner Sir Alf Ramsey with 113 games and Gareth Southgate taking charge of 102 before his resignation after defeat in the Euro 2024 final. Sir Bobby Robson managed 95.

Eriksson is sixth by win percentage, excluding caretaker managers and Sam Allardyce’s one-match reign as “permanent” manager.

At 59.7 per cent, Eriksson is just 0.1 behind Southgate with Ron Greenwood at 60 per cent.

Glenn Hoddle won 60.7 per cent of games in charge and Ramsey 61.1 per cent including the biggest game of all in 1966, while the highest winning percentage belongs to Fabio Capello at 66.7.

Only Ramsey, Southgate and semi-finalists Robson and Terry Venables have taken England deeper in a major tournament than Eriksson’s run of quarter-final finishes.

Compared to Capello, England’s only other overseas appointment, Eriksson has 25 more games and 12 more wins to his name. Capello reached only the last 16 of the 2010 World Cup and resigned ahead of Euro 2012.

Career overview

Eriksson managed three other national teams – Mexico, the Ivory Coast and the Philippines – and clubs in five countries.

Beginning in his native Sweden he managed Degerfors and IFK Gothenburg before leaving in 1982 for the first of two spells at Portuguese side Benfica.

He managed Roma, Fiorentina, Sampdoria and Lazio in Italy’s Serie A, Manchester City and Leicester in England and Guangzhou R&F, Shanghai SIPG and Shenzhen in China.

Eriksson won the Serie A title with Lazio in 1999-2000 to add to the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup the previous season, also twice winning the Coppa Italia which he had previously lifted with Roma and Samp.

His time at Benfica brought three league titles, a domestic cup and two European finals and he led Gothenburg to UEFA Cup glory in 1982.