The Swedish coaching icon passed away on Monday morning with his family by his side.
Monday, August 26 at 3:51 PM
This was confirmed by the family in a press release. Sven-Göran Eriksson was 76 years old.
“It went very quickly in the end, and this morning he fell asleep with his family around him,” says his agent Bo Gustavsson to SVT.
“But he always kept his spirits up, never complained, but remained positive,” says Gustavsson.
Eriksson was open about his incurable pancreatic cancer. In January, the Swede said that he had, at best, one year left to live.
Eriksson’s Coaching Career:
- 1977–1978: Degerfors
- 1979–1982: IFK Göteborg
- 1982–1984: Benfica
- 1984–1987: Roma
- 1987–1989: Fiorentina
- 1989–1992: Benfica
- 1992–1997: Sampdoria
- 1997–2001: Lazio
- 2001–2006: England
- 2007–2008: Manchester City
- 2008–2009. Mexico
- 2009–2010: Notts County (sporting director)
- 2010: Côte d’Ivoire
- 2010–2011: Leicester City
- 2012: Tero Sasana, Thailand (sporting director)
- 2013: Al-Nassr, Saudi Arabia (advisor)
- 2013–2014: Guangzhou, China
- 2014–2016: Shanghai, China
- 2016–2017: Shenzhen, China
- 2018–2019: Philippines
- 2022–2023: Karlstad (advisor)
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“I think we are all afraid of the day when it is over, when you die. Life is also about death. You have to learn to accept what it is. Hopefully, people will eventually say: Yes, he was a good man. But not everyone will say that. I hope you remember me as a coach who tried his best; he didn’t win every game, but he won a lot and lost sometimes. Don’t be sad,” said Sven-Göran Eriksson before he passed away, according to Aftonbladet.
Eriksson has expressed that he wishes for his ashes to be scattered in Lake Fryken back home in Värmland. He lived at the estate Björkfors, located between Torsby and Sunne, not far from the Norwegian border.
In recent months, he has been traveling around Europe visiting his former clubs:
His coaching career began in Degerfors in 1977 and truly took off with the UEFA Cup title with IFK Göteborg in 1982.
He led Lazio to the Serie A title in 2000 and won three league titles with Benfica in Portugal. He also managed England in two World Cups and one European Championship.
Additionally, he has coached top clubs such as Manchester City, Roma, Fiorentina, and Sampdoria.
“I am almost speechless when I think about the football personality we are talking about. It was absolutely insane. All the players in England praise him,” says former NRK commentator Arne Scheie after Eriksson’s death.
Scheie believes the career of “Svennis” surpasses most.
“He was an incredibly sympathetic guy. I must say that he is one of the very, very greatest football personalities we have had. I go so far, yes.”
Prince William praises Eriksson on X
“Sad to hear about the passing. I met him several times when he was England manager, and was always struck by his charisma and passion for the game. My thoughts go out to his family and friends. A true gentleman,” writes Prince William.
Henning Berg, a Norwegian coaching profile and former national team captain, will remember “Svennis” as the Swedish coach with perhaps the most success.
“He was a calm Swedish coach who had a slightly different mentality than what they were used to in England. When it went well, he was clearly declared a genius, but when it went badly, it was a disaster. That’s how it always is. A real football man, and I think he remembers his roots well in Sweden,” says Berg to VG.
While coaching England, it was star-studded with David Beckham, John Terry, Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard, and Steven Gerrard among others.
“I think they (football England) look back on him as a coach who had a good England national team and one of the most talented young teams. Without it quite reaching the top. There were some affairs and he will probably be remembered a bit for that too, but first and foremost as a Swedish gentleman and a calm, nice guy,” says Berg.
The English tabloids closely covered Eriksson’s private life.
Watch the video: In April he was honored at a full Ullevi:
Eriksson managed to have a farewell tour before he passed away. He had been to Gamla Ullevi in Gothenburg, Stadio Luigi Ferrari in Genoa (home ground of Sampdoria), Stadio Olimpico in Rome (home ground of Lazio), and the Swedish Sports Gala. In his hometown Torsby, they have erected a statue of him.
Several of England’s greatest football stars and Lazio heroes thanked “Svennis” for what he did for them.
He fulfilled the dream of coaching his favorite team Liverpool in a charity match against Ajax: