Wednesday 27 / November / 2024
GENEVA: FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Monday paid homage to former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson who passed away at 76.
The Swedish football manager, who coached England from 2001 to 2006, died on Monday after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
"I am deeply saddened to learn of Sven-Goran Eriksson's passing," Infantino said on social media. "As a coach, Sven-Goran was both a great innovator and a true ambassador of our beautiful game, winning domestic competitions in three different European countries together with two successes at continental level with IFK Goteborg and Lazio."
"A global influence, his career also included coaching national teams from four different continents with time spent in charge of England, Mexico, Cote d'lvoire and the Philippines," Infantino added.
"As a football person, he always led with enthusiasm and with a smile. On behalf of FIFA and our global community, I send my condolences to Sven-Goran's family and friends at this difficult time. RIP."
Eriksson made history in 2001 when he replaced Kevin Keegan to become the first foreign coach to take charge of the England team and he led them to two World Cup finals stages, in 2002 and 2006, with a historic 5-1 win away to Germany in September 2001, helping make him a very popular figure.
The 76-year-old Swede also coached in China for approximately five years. In 2013, he came to Chinese Super League to coach Guangzhou R&F. In 2015, he became the head coach of Shanghai SIPG Club, and in 2017, he also coached for a period of time in Shenzhen.
