SWEDISH soccer manager Sven-Göran Eriksson, known for his tenure as England’s coach from 2001 to 2006, passed away Monday at the age of 76 after battling pancreatic cancer.

In January, Eriksson disclosed that he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer, stating that he had “at best, a year” left to live.

Eriksson made history in 2001 when he replaced Kevin Keegan, becoming the first non-English coach to lead the England national soccer team. During his time at the helm, he guided England to two World Cup finals in 2002 and 2006 and earned widespread acclaim for a memorable 5-1 victory against Germany in September 2001.

Eriksson’s impact extended beyond Europe. He spent approximately five years coaching in China, a period that included a stint in Shenzhen in 2017. After joining the Chinese Super League in 2013 as the head coach of Guangzhou R&F, he later took charge of Shanghai SIPG in 2015. His time in Shenzhen was marked by his efforts to elevate the team’s performance, further solidifying his legacy in Chinese soccer.

The soccer world mourned Eriksson’s passing, with numerous clubs, players, and journalists sharing their condolences on social media. UEFA, the governing body of European soccer, paid tribute on X, stating, “On behalf of the European [soccer] community, everybody at UEFA is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Sven-Göran Eriksson.”

“A beloved figure in the game, Sven was a UEFA Cup winner as coach of IFK Goteborg in 1982 before leading Lazio to the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1999. Rest in peace, Sven.”

(Xinhua)