“Svennis” is dead

Published 26 August 2024 at 19.17

Domestic. Sweden's most prominent football coach of all time, Sven-Göran “Svennis” Eriksson, has passed away at the age of 76. This is reported by SVT Sport.

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Eriksson, who for some time fought pancreatic cancer, fell asleep peacefully in his home at Björkefors outside Sunne during the morning on August 26.

His agent, Bo Gustavsson, confirms that Eriksson has gradually gotten worse recently but maintained a positive attitude right up until the end.

– Things have gone very quickly on the end, and this morning he fell asleep at home, with his family around him, says Bo Gustavsson to SVT Sport.

Sven-Göran “Svennis” Eriksson broke through as a coach with IFK Göteborg when he led the team to victory in the UEFA Cup in 1982. This was followed by a successful international career with clubs such as Benfica, Roma, Fiorentina, Sampdoria and Lazio, where he won the Italian league title in 2000. He also made a big impression as the national team captain of the England men's national team, where he reached the quarter-finals of both WC and EC.

His last coaching assignment was as the national team captain of the Philippines in 2018-19.

Eriksson leaves behind two children, Linda and Johan, who describe him as a person who bravely fought his illness.

“Our father Sven-Göran Eriksson fell asleep peacefully and quietly in his home at Björkefors outside Sunne this morning, Monday, August 26. He has for a long time with a positive mind and great courage fought with his illness, but now it has come to an end,” the children write in a statement.

Sven-Göran Eriksson was 76 years old.