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Football world pays tribute as Sven-Goran Eriksson passes away age 76

The football world pays tribute as Sven-Goran Eriksson passes away age 76, it was confirmed on Monday (26 August) morning.

The former England manager disclosed his terminal cancer diagnosis back in January, and he spoke about it in a documentary, due to come out on Amazon Prime Video.

Eriksson revealed it was pancreatic cancer, with “at best about a year to live”, but sadly died in his home surrounded by his loved ones just seven months later.

In February 2024, it was announced that Eriksson would join the management team for the Liverpool Legends for their charity match against Ajax in March.

The Swede was the first foreign coach to manage England and led the side to the quarter-finals of the 2002 and 2006 World Cup and 2004 Euros.

Press release from his family:

“Sven-Goran Erikssonhas passed away. After a long illness, SGE died during the morning at home surrounded by family.

“The closest mourners are daughter Lim; son Johan with wife Amana and granddaughter Sky; father Sven; girlfriend Yanisette with son Alcides; brother Lars-Erik with wife Jumnong.

“The family asks for respect for their wish to mourn in private and not be contacted. Condolences and greetings can be left on the website www.svengoraneriksson.com ”

Statement from Sven-Goran Eriksson’s children:

“Our father Sven-Goran Eriksson fell asleep peacefully in his home at Bjorkefors outside Sunne this morning. He has for a long time fought bravely with his illness, but now it came to an end.

“Our thoughts go out to Sven-Goran’s father Sven; girlfriend Yaniseth and her son Alcides; to his brother Lasse and wife Jumnong, as well as to all good friends and acquaintances in Sweden and around the world.

“Dad told us at the beginning of this year about his serious illness and received an amazing response from friends and football fans around Europe. He was invited to several football teams in England, Italy, Portugal and Sweden. They shared their love for football and for dad. It was unforgettable for both him and us. He expressed his appreciation and joy and stated that such beautiful words are usually only uttered when someone has died.

“- I get to hear it while I’m alive and I’m incredibly grateful for that. The heart beats twice and the tears come. I have had the best job in the world and I was happy every day for long periods. It’s been fantastic, he said.”

“We have shared his gratitude and got to experience the wonderful meetings between him, football and all his friends. We thank everyone for these positive memories and your support during his illness.

“We hope that you will remember Svennis as the good and positive person he always was both in public and at home with us.

“Lina and Johan Eriksson ”

England are to pay tribute to Sven-Goran Eriksson at Wembley before the game against Finland on the 10th of September.

FA CEO Mark Bullingham said: “This is a very sad day. He gave all England fans such special memories. No one can ever forget the 5-1 victory in Munich against Germany under Sven’s guidance.

“Sven will be rightly recognised and forever remembered for his significant work with the England team, and for his wider contribution to the game.

“On behalf of my colleagues at The FA, past and present, our thoughts are with his friends and family today. He will be much missed, and we will pay tribute to him when we play Finland at Wembley next month.”

Sven-Goran Eriksson recently gave an emotional final goodbye and admits how he wants people to remember him in a new documentary.

He has shared farewell with the public following his diagnosis with pancreatic cancer, which he announced in January 2024.

Eriksson has also been candid about his health, indicating he might have a year to live at best. Now, his goodbye message was not just about his farewell, but also about how he hopes to be remembered.

He expressed a desire for people to remember him as “a good man,” focusing on his personal legacy rather than just his professional achievements, including making history as England’s first foreign manager in 2001, managing the team for five years.

Despite having what was often called the ‘Golden Generation’ of players, England’s performance under him was marked by quarter-final exits in major tournaments, such as the 2002 and 2006 World Cups and 2004 Euros.

His personal life, particularly his relationships with women, and affairs he had, often overshadowed his managerial tactics in the media.

More recently, since his diagnosis, he’s gone on a farewell tour, visiting former clubs where he was celebrated by fans and former colleagues.

A new documentary on Amazon Prime Video, titled ‘Sven’, looks into his life, career, and a poignant moment of his farewell, providing insight into his journey and how he wishes to be remembered.

Eriksson’s farewell has been a moment of reflection for many in the football community, highlighting not just his managerial tactics but his human side, his battles, and his legacy beyond the pitch.

Speaking on a new Amazon Prime documentary about his life, titled ‘Sven’, he issued a goodbye message, telling fans and viewers watching: “Don’t be sorry… smile”.

“I had a good life, yes. I think we all are scared of the day when it’s finished, when we die. But the life is about death as well. You have to learn to accept it, of what it is.

“Hopefully at the end, people will say, ‘Yeah, he was a good man’. But everyone will not say that.

“I hope you will remember me as a positive guy trying to do everything he could do. Don’t be sorry. Smile. Thank you for everything – coaches, players, the crowd. It’s been fantastic. Take care of yourself, and take care of your life, and live it. Bye.”

Opening up about his various flings, Eriksson admitted he was “stupid” but insisted he never did anything illegal.

He said: “Sex is one of the good things in life for all of us. She was not married. I was not married.

“Probably I was stupid but I think I didn’t do anything criminal. I didn’t really disturb anyone.” He then added: “I had a good life, maybe too good. You have to pay for it.”

As mentioned, the football world pays tribute as Sven-Goran Eriksson passes away age 76…

@teamslikeLuton: RIP Sven-Goran Eriksson. Gave me arguably the greatest night as an England fan. Germany 1 – 5 England. #RIPSVEN

@Stockbridge_81: We may not have come that close to winning anything but I don’t think I’ve enjoyed being an England fan as much as I did during his time. Farewell, Sven 🇸🇪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

@TheEllisScott: Oh Sven. Rest well, you wonderful man 💔

@ashleyyoung_7: This is really sad news even though we all knew it was coming. Makes his speech in recent weeks even more special. R.I.P Sven ♥️

@bilmeister88: Very sad news about Sven Goran Eriksson. He came across very well recently and very glad Liverpool gave him his dying wish. RIP Sven

@ArronAli1: Pure gentleman died with dignity RIP Sven.

@rob_fisher_efc: RIP Sven 💙 Got England back on track after a turbulent couple of years, that 5-1 win in Germany was really special.

@GiallorossiBlue: Rest in peace, Sven Goran Eriksson. By all accounts, he was loved by the players he managed and the clubs fans. I have so much admiration for how candidly he spoke about his cancer diagnosis. Facing your own mortality can’t be easy, but he did it with so much dignity.

@GuyStacey1: Sad news about Sven. I always enjoyed watching England under his tenure even if we did underachieve. And the man was clearly loved and respected by all who knew him. RIP and thanks for the memories.

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