- The family of Sven Eriksson has issued a statement surrounding his death
- The former England manager was honoured by Liverpool both before and after his passing
- Eriksson lived a fulfilled life winning many trophies across different countries
Sven-Göran Eriksson, the trailblazing Swedish football manager and the first non-Englishman to helm the England national team, passed away on Monday, August 26 at the age of 76. Eriksson had revealed earlier in January that he was battling pancreatic cancer.
"After a prolonged illness, SGE died peacefully at home in the early hours, surrounded by loved ones," his family announced in a heartfelt statement.
Celebrated as one of Sweden's finest football managers, Eriksson clinched major trophies in Sweden, Portugal, and Italy before guiding England through three major tournaments in the early 2000s.
“Dad informed us at the start of the year about his grave illness, and the outpouring of support from friends and football enthusiasts across Europe was overwhelming. He received invitations from several clubs in England, Italy, Portugal, and Sweden.”
“These encounters were filled with warmth and admiration for football and for dad. It was an unforgettable experience for him and us. He cherished those moments and often mentioned how such kind words are usually only spoken after someone has passed away.”
“We have shared in his gratitude and treasured the wonderful moments between him, football, and his dear friends. We are grateful for these memories and for your support throughout his illness.”
“We hope that you will remember Svennis as the kind and positive individual he always was, both in public and in private,” the family’s representative announced.
Below are 6 things you probably didn’t know about the late England manager:
1. Eriksson was the proud owner of five properties, including a flat in Rome's Piazza del Popolo and a luxurious beach resort in Portugal.
2. A passionate tennis enthusiast, Eriksson was known for his competitive spirit on the court. Even legendary Italy manager Dino Zoff recalled how much Eriksson despised losing.
3. His first marriage to Swede Ann-Kristin ended in 1992, and he had two children from the union – son Johan, 32, and daughter Lina, 26.
4. His long-term partner was high-profile lawyer Nancy Dall'Olio.
5. Eriksson had a deep appreciation for fine wine and Tibetan poetry.
6. While he favoured the 4-4-2 formation, Eriksson was not rigid in his approach, also deploying 4-5-1 and occasionally 3-5-2 during his managerial career.
Eriksson lived life to the fullest. A lifelong Liverpool supporter, he once expressed his desire to manage the club.
After his diagnosis, Liverpool then invited him to join their Legends management team for a charity match against Ajax Legends at Anfield.
Liverpool honoured Eriksson's memory, stating, “Rest in peace, Sven-Göran Eriksson. The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Sven’s family and friends at this extremely sad time.”
“Is Walker there for comic relief?” Netizens react to UEFA’s EURO 2024 team of the tournament
Previously TheRadar reported that Walker’s inclusion as right back in the TOT has in every way sparked a heat of reaction across social platforms. Although this is very common in the world of football, the Manchester City defender's choice in that team by UEFA does not seem like a welcomed decision even across opposing fanbases.
Some fans argued that Walker was only there to appease England for their loss on Sunday night.
