Sven-Goran Eriksson, the ex-England coach, passes away at 76 after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Sven-Goran Eriksson, the former England manager, has sadly passed away at the age of 76. Earlier this year, Eriksson revealed that he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and had been given a year to live. In a statement, it was announced that he died surrounded by his family, who have requested privacy during this time of mourning.

FA President Prince William paid tribute to Eriksson, describing him as a “true gentleman of the game.” Eriksson made history in 2001 when he became the first non-British manager to take charge of the England national team. Under his leadership, England reached the quarter-finals of three major tournaments.

One of the most memorable moments of Eriksson’s tenure was at the 2002 World Cup, where England were defeated by eventual winners Brazil. The infamous lob by Ronaldinho over goalkeeper David Seaman will forever be etched in football history. Trevor Sinclair, who was part of Eriksson’s squad during that time, expressed his sadness and gratitude for his former manager on social media.

Heartbreak struck again in 2004 at Euro, as England were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Portugal on penalties. The same fate awaited them at the 2006 World Cup, with Portugal once again prevailing in a penalty shootout. Despite not achieving success with the so-called ‘golden generation’ of English players, including David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, and Wayne Rooney, Eriksson’s statistical record was commendable. He improved England’s world rankings and holds the sixth position in the all-time rankings for England managers based on win percentage.

One of the highlights of Eriksson’s tenure was England’s remarkable 5-1 victory over Germany in Munich during the qualification campaign for the World Cup. This result will forever be cherished by fans. Eriksson also had managerial stints with Mexico, Ivory Coast, and the Philippines at the international level.

At the club level, Eriksson managed several high-profile European teams, including Benfica, Roma, and Lazio. He later took charge of Manchester City and Leicester City after his time with the England national team. However, his tenure at Manchester City was short-lived, ending abruptly after a heavy 8-1 defeat against Middlesbrough.

The final job of Eriksson’s life was a dream come true for him, as he had the opportunity to manage Liverpool Legends in a charity match at Anfield. He had always aspired to lead the club, and his wish was fulfilled during the exhibition match against Ajax earlier this year.

The football world mourns the loss of Sven-Goran Eriksson, a respected figure in the sport. His contributions to English football and his achievements as a manager will be remembered for years to come.