On August 26, 2024, the renowned Swedish coach and former England manager Eriksson passed away due to illness at the age of 76.
Eriksson was a well-known football coach from Sweden. During his playing career, he played for lower-tier clubs in Sweden, but retired early due to a knee injury and subsequently embarked on a coaching career.
In his coaching career, he successively managed teams such as Göteborg, Benfica, Roma, Valencia, Sampdoria, and Lazio across various leagues, leading Lazio to win multiple titles including the Serie A, Coppa Italia, Italian Supercup, and UEFA Super Cup, thus establishing his reputation.
In 2001, Eriksson became the manager of the England national team, becoming the first foreign head coach in England’s history. He led the team through three major tournaments: the 2002 World Cup, the 2004 European Championship, and the 2006 World Cup.
From 2013 to 2017, Eriksson also coached in the Chinese Super League, taking charge of Guangzhou R&F, Shanghai SIPG, and Shenzhen FC.
On January 11, 2024, it was confirmed that the elderly Eriksson had advanced pancreatic cancer, with an estimated life expectancy of no more than one year. Despite this, Eriksson maintained a positive and optimistic attitude, continuing to enjoy the happiness brought by football and life during his final year.
After his diagnosis, Eriksson said, “I hope everyone will remember me as a positive person, always trying to do everything within my power. Don’t feel sorry, keep smiling.”
“I want to thank everything around me, thank the coaches, players, and people around me, this experience has been wonderful. Take good care of yourself, take good care of your life, and just live it.”