Sven-Göran Eriksson, the first foreign manager of the England men’s team, has passed away at the age of 76 after a long illness.
The late coach, who was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer in January, died peacefully at his home in Sweden surrounded by his family.
Eriksson’s children, Lina and Johan, released a statement saying their father had “fought bravely” against his illness and that they were grateful for the outpouring of support from friends and football fans.
Tributes have poured in from the football world, with Prince William, the FA’s patron, describing Eriksson as a “true gentleman of the game”. Former England midfielder David Beckham shared a video of his visit to Eriksson’s home in Sweden earlier this year, saying Eriksson was “passionate, caring, calm & a true gentleman”.
Eriksson managed England from 2001 to 2006, leading the team to the quarter-finals of two World Cups and one European Championship. He also managed several clubs, including Manchester City, Leicester City, and Liverpool.
The football community has come together to pay their respects to Eriksson, with many clubs and players sharing their condolences on social media.
The England national team will honor Eriksson’s life at Wembley Stadium when they play Finland on September 10.