Remembering Sven-Goran Eriksson: A Football Legend's Legacy

Sven-Goran Eriksson, the renowned Swedish football manager who made history as the first foreigner to coach the England national team, has passed away at age 76 from pancreatic cancer. His illustrious career spanned several decades, leading teams across Sweden, Portugal, Italy, and England. Tributes have poured in globally.


Devdiscourse News Desk | Updated: 26-08-2024 20:14 IST | Created: 26-08-2024 20:14 IST
Remembering Sven-Goran Eriksson: A Football Legend's Legacy

Swedish football manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who made history as the first foreigner to lead the England national team, has passed away at the age of 76. Eriksson, a charismatic and accomplished coach, guided clubs in Sweden, Portugal, and Italy to major victories in the 1980s and 1990s before taking on the England managerial role in 2001. Earlier this year, Eriksson had announced his terminal diagnosis with pancreatic cancer.

His long-time agent Bo Gustavsson confirmed that Eriksson succumbed to cancer on Monday, surrounded by his family. 'We knew it was going to end bad; it all went really fast in the last few weeks,' Gustavsson told Reuters. Eriksson's children, Lina and Johan, expressed gratitude to those who had supported their father and shared some of his final sentiments, reflecting on his life and career.

Eriksson, who led England to the quarter-finals in the 2002 and 2006 World Cups as well as the 2004 European Championship, is fondly remembered for managing a golden generation of players, including David Beckham and Wayne Rooney. FA CEO Mark Bullingham praised Eriksson for his contributions to English football, and a tribute is planned during England's match against Finland at Wembley next month.

(With inputs from agencies.)

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