Eriksson, who made history as England’s first foreign manager when he took the role in 2001, died of pancreatic cancer. He had been ill for some time and revealed in January 2023 that he had “at best a year to live.”
Recently, Eriksson had stepped down from his position as sporting director at Karlstad in Sweden and sought medical advice after collapsing during a 5km run, where doctors also discovered he had suffered a stroke.
A statement from his agent on Monday, August 26, said: “Sven-Göran Eriksson has passed away. After a long illness, he died peacefully at home surrounded by his family.”
The statement continued: “His closest mourners include his daughter Lina; his son Johan, daughter-in-law Amana, and granddaughter Sky; his father Sven; his girlfriend Yanisette and her son Alcides; and his brother Lars-Erik and his wife Jumnong.”
“This is a very sad day. Sven gave England fans many cherished memories, including the unforgettable 5-1 victory in Munich against Germany under his guidance.”
“Sven will be remembered for his significant contributions to the England team and his broader impact on the sport.”
“On behalf of everyone at The FA, past and present, our thoughts are with his friends and family. He will be greatly missed, and we will honor his memory during our match against Finland at Wembley next month.”
Born on February 5, 1948, Eriksson grew up in Sweden and began his career as a professional footballer. He started his managerial career with Degerfors IF and made a name for himself with Goteborg by winning the UEFA Cup in 1971/72.
He later managed Benfica, securing three Primeira Divisao titles and a Portuguese Cup, and finishing as a runner-up in both the European Cup and UEFA Cup.
In January 2001, Eriksson took over the England national team and led them through two World Cups and one European Championship, guiding ‘the Golden Generation’ that included stars like David Beckham, John Terry, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, and Wayne Rooney.
