Former England football manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has died aged 76 after becoming terminally ill with pancreatic cancer.
The Swedish boss – who said in January he had ‘best case a year’ to live after his diagnosis – became the first foreigner to lead the England national team in 2001.
Sven-Goran Eriksson led the squad to quarter finals of the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, and at the 2004 European Championship.
He famously managed a golden generation of players, including David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard.
Sven-Goran Eriksson also led Swedish, Portuguese and Italian clubs to major trophies in the 1980s and 1990s before taking on the England job.
Bo Gustavsson, an agent in Sweden who worked with Eriksson, said in a statement issued today: ‘Sven-Goran Eriksson has passed away.
‘After a long illness, SGE died during the morning at home surrounded by family.
‘The closest mourners are daughter Lina; son Johan with wife Amana and granddaughter Sky; father Sven; girlfriend Yanisette with son Alcides; brother Lars-Erik with wife Jumnong.
‘The family asks for respect for their wish to mourn in private and not be contacted. Condolences and greetings can be left on the website www.svengoraneriksson.com.’