Sven-Goran Eriksson, the Swedish football manager known for his tenure as England’s national team coach, passed away on Monday at the age of 76 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. His passing was confirmed by his agent, Bo Gustavsson, who shared that Eriksson died peacefully at home, surrounded by family.

“He passed away peacefully this morning with his family around him at his home,” Gustavsson stated to AFP.

Eriksson, who earned acclaim for leading England to the World Cup quarter-finals in both 2002 and 2006, had stepped back from public life in February 2023, citing health issues. Earlier, in January, he disclosed in a radio interview that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, with doctors giving him a prognosis of one year to live.

“We have known about this, but it happened very quickly. We were not prepared for it to happen today,” Gustavsson reflected, conveying the suddenness of Eriksson’s passing.

Born on February 5, 1948, in Sunne, western Sweden, Eriksson, affectionately known as “Svennis” in his homeland, began his managerial career in 1977 with Swedish club Degerfors IF after retiring from a modest playing career as a defender. His early success with Degerfors IF led to opportunities with bigger clubs, including IFK Göteborg, where he further established his reputation.

Eriksson’s career took him beyond Sweden’s borders, as he went on to manage Portuguese giants Benfica and several Italian clubs, including AS Roma and Lazio. However, his most notable achievement came in 2001 when he became the first foreigner to manage England’s national team.

Under Eriksson’s leadership, England saw a remarkable 5-1 victory over Germany in a World Cup qualifier, although his tenure was also marked by controversy surrounding his personal life. After his time with England, Eriksson managed teams in Mexico, Ivory Coast, and the Philippines, yet he never had the opportunity to manage Sweden’s national squad.