Sven-Göran Eriksson, the highly-acclaimed football manager from Sweden who was the first non-Brit to lead the England team, has sadly passed away at the age of 76. His death was confirmed by his Swedish agent, Bo Gustavsson via his British public relations representative, Dean Eldredge of Oporto Sports. Eriksson’s family were by his side when he passed away on Monday morning at his residence.
In January 2024, Eriksson had disclosed to the public that he had been diagnosed with a terminal illness, noting that he likely had about a year to live “at best”. This news came after he resigned from his final role as sporting director at Karlstad, secured in his homeland of Sweden, in February of the previous year due to undisclosed health issues.
Eriksson’s successful career in management spanned over 40 years. He began his journey in his home country, managing Degerfors IF, before moving on to lead IFK Göteborg. Despite being largely unknown to the players of Göteborg, one of the country’s top clubs, the 30-year-old Eriksson excelled in his role, guiding the team to victory in the Swedish league and the Uefa Cup in 1982.
Following his triumphs in Sweden, Eriksson secured a managerial position at Benfica, a Portuguese club, where he delivered stellar performance, securing two league titles and reaching another Uefa Cup final in the year 1983, although that time, they were defeated by Anderlecht with a 2-1 aggregate.
His successful stint in Portugal was followed by a move to Italy, working with clubs like Roma and Fiorentina before his return to Benfica in 1989, leading the club to yet another league title. In 1990, they reached a European Cup final, but were overcome by Milan.
Eriksson’s career witnessed a return to Italy managing Sampdoria, where he led the club to a Coppa Italia win in 1994. He moved on to Lazio next, where with the backing of the club’s wealthy president Sergio Cragnotti in transfer dealings, he reciprocated the trust by sealing a Serie A title in 2000. This was only the second occasion that the club from Rome had clinched the top honour in Italy.
Eriksson had the reputation as one of the most prestigious managers in Europe, which explained why The English Football Association handpicked him as the successor to Kevin Keegan’s role as the England manager. His nomination in January 2001, however, sparked controversy among some news outlets, mostly due to his non-British origin.
The Daily Mail criticised the decision, accusing the Association of trading their heritage to a Nordic nation. Likewise, The Sun called Eriksson’s recruitment an unfortunate and self-imposed criticism.
Despite the uproar, Eriksson maintained his calm persona. He started off on a positive note, leading the England team to a 3-0 triumph over Spain at Villa Park in February 2001. His crowning achievement came seven months later with a 5-1 victory over Germany in Munich. David Lacey of The Guardian deemed it as the peak of joy, a moment which for Eriksson, symbolised a great uprise. Lacey also reckoned Eriksson’s selection as a stroke of brilliance.
The England team secured their World Cup qualification the following summer after a 2-2 draw with Greece at Old Trafford in October 2001. However, Eriksson’s time as coach was marked with controversy. Eriksson faced allegations of an illicit affair with TV presenter and fellow Swede, Ulrika Johnson just before the tournament.
Critics claimed Eriksson fell short of maximising England’s so-called golden generation’s potential. Nonetheless, he steered the country to the quarter-finals in three major tournaments.
Eriksson resigned following the 2006 World Cup following a tabloid scandal earlier that year. He was duped into being part of a fake buyout scheme involving Aston Villa. His position became unbearable and his impending departure was announced ahead of the World Cup, irrespective of the team’s performance in Germany.
Reflecting on his five-year tenure as England’s football manager, Eriksson expressed his dissatisfaction with the media’s inability to distinguish between his personal and professional life, calling it unjust. He didn’t object to scrutiny from the football press, but felt that the non-sporting press’s intrusion into his personal affairs was seriously objectionable.
In the subsequent years, Eriksson’s managerial career saw him in charge of several clubs and national teams, including Manchester City, Leicester, Mexico, and ultimately, the Philippines in 2019. By 2024, he had achieved a lifelong ambition, managing Liverpool during a charity match at Anfield. Post-match, Eriksson reminisced, describing the day as wonderful.
Before his passing, an Amazon Prime documentary about his life was released, fittingly titled ‘Sven’. The man himself shared a touching farewell message in the film, reflecting his warm spirit, graciousness, and honour. “Don’t mourn, smile,” he said, extending his gratitude towards his fellow coaches, players, and fans. “I had an incredible time. Look after yourself, take care of your life. Ensure you live it fully. Goodbye,” he declared.