Sven-Göran Eriksson is dead. The coaching legend dies after a long battle with cancer at the age of 76.
Sven-Göran Eriksson is dead. The Swedish football coach died on Monday (26 August 2024) from the effects of cancer. He was 76 years old. Eriksson’s family announced his death in a statement. “Sven-Göran Eriksson has passed away,” it said. “After a long illness, SGE died this morning at home surrounded by his family.”
In January 2024, Sven-Göran Eriksson announced that he was suffering from incurable pancreatic cancer. He had learned about the disease the previous year. At the time, doctors had given him a maximum of one year to live. However, the Swede announced that he would fight the cancer.
“I had a good life”
Only recently, Sven-Göran Eriksson had written a book about his life. “I’ve had a good life,” he said. “I think we’re all afraid of the day we die, but life is also about death. You have to learn to accept it as it is.”
“Hopefully, in the end, people will say, yes, he was a good person,” Eriksson hoped. Even though he knew, “but not everyone will say that.” But he hoped to be remembered as a “positive person.” Then he said goodbye: “Take care of yourselves and take care of your life. And live it. Bye.”
Liverpool coach for one day as a last wish
In March 2024, Sven-Göran Eriksson had another lifelong dream come true. He coached Liverpool FC. The club’s then coach, Jürgen Klopp (57), gave him the coaching bench for a match between the Reds’ legends team and an all-star team from Ajax Amsterdam. Eriksson won his last match 4-2.
Even without a regular engagement at Liverpool FC, Sven-Göran Eriksson had achieved almost everything that can be achieved in his job. He was the first foreigner to coach the English national team. From 2001 to 2006 he coached David Beckham (49) and co., leading them to the quarter-finals at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups and the 2004 European Championships. In 2010 he was on the bench for the Ivory Coast at the World Cup in South Africa.
Sporting successes and private scandals
Sven-Göran Eriksson is one of the few coaches who has won a European competition with two different teams. In 1982 he won the UEFA Cup with IFK Göteborg and in 1999 the European Cup Winners’ Cup with Lazio Rome. The globetrotter also had success with Benfica Lisbon and various Italian teams. His last engagement was as coach of the Philippine national team (until 2019).
After his engagement with the English national team, he coached Manchester City and Leicester City on the island. In England, Eriksson was also in the headlines because of amorous scandals. He had an affair with TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson (57).
“A true gentleman”: Prince William bows
Numerous clubs that Sven-Göran Eriksson worked for have paid tribute to their former coach on social media. Prince William (42) also paid tribute to the deceased. “I met him several times as England’s national coach and was always impressed by his charisma and passion for football,” William wrote on X. “My thoughts are with his family and friends. A true gentleman of football,” continued the heir to the throne, who is president of the English Football Association (FA).
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
