David Beckham led the tributes to Sven-Göran Eriksson after the former England manager died at the age of 76, describing him as “passionate, caring, calm and a true gentleman”.
The Swede became England’s first overseas manager and led them to the quarter-finals in three successive tournaments during his spell in charge between 2001 and 2006. Eriksson, who also managed Manchester City, Lazio and Roma, revealed in January 2024 that he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and that he likely had “at best” about a year to live. Eriksson died at home in Björkefors, near Sunne, on Monday morning surrounded by his family.
Beckham posted footage of a recent meeting with Eriksson on Instagram and wrote: “We laughed, we cried and we knew we were saying goodbye. Sven, thank you for always being the person you have always been – passionate, caring, calm and a true gentleman.
“I will be forever grateful for you making me your captain but I will forever hold these last memories of this day with you and your family... Thank you Sven and in your last words to me ‘It will be ok’.”
Two more former England captains were among others to pay tribute. Michael Owen, who scored a hat-trick in England’s 5-1 win over Germany at the Olympiastadion in Munich in 2001 that marked arguably Eriksson’s greatest day as a manager, referred to “one of the very best and a man who will be sadly missed by everyone in the world of football”. Wayne Rooney wrote on X: “Rest in peace, Sven. A special man. Thanks for the memories and all your help and advice. Thoughts and prayers with all his family and friends.”
Kasper Schmeichel, who Eriksson signed for Leicester in 2011, also underlined his gratitude. “Sven was the first manager to truly believe in me and give me a chance at the highest level,” the goalkeeper said on Instagram. “He was the first manager to call me world-class and he made me feel 10 feet tall. It is a great loss to football and the world.” The former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch said on X: “Sven gave me my England debut when plenty doubted it. I will for ever be grateful to him. He will be missed.”
The League Managers Association chairman, Martin O’Neill, the former Aston Villa and Republic of Ireland manager, said he was saddened by Eriksson’s passing and that when their paths crossed “he was extremely courteous and rather genteel, with a real sense of humour. He brought sparkle with him always.”
The Prince of Wales described Eriksson as a “true gentleman of the game”. In a tribute posted on X, Prince William, who stepped back from his role as president of the Football Association in July, a position he had held since 2006, said: “Sad to hear about the passing of Sven-Göran Eriksson. I met him several times as England manager and was always struck by his charisma and passion for the game. My thoughts are with his family and friends.” The prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, said: “He will be remembered for his tremendous contribution to English football which brought joy to so many over the years.”
Eriksson grew up in Värmland, western Sweden, a Liverpool supporter and realised his dream of managing his favourite team in a charity match at Anfield in March. Eriksson’s co-manager that day was Ian Rush, Liverpool’s all-time record goalscorer, and the former striker John Aldridge was also part of his staff. “Myself, Ian Rush and John Barnes were on the bench,” Aldridge told BBC Radio 5 Live. “He kept saying to us: ‘This is amazing, this is unbelievable.’ He got what he always wanted as a child: to manage a Liverpool side. It was so special. When they sang You’ll Never Walk Alone to him … he was just a gem of a man.”
Eriksson’s years in charge of England were marked by scandal over his private life, including newspapers revealing affairs, and he departed from his post at the end of the 2006 World Cup having been caught up in a tabloid sting in the January of that year after he told the ‘Fake Sheikh’ that he would be willing to manage Aston Villa were they to be the subject of a Middle Eastern takeover. “Despite a crisis or two we always smiled,” said Adrian Bevington, who worked alongside Eriksson as the Football Association’s director of communications.
The Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, called Eriksson “a great innovator and a true ambassador of our beautiful game” and the world governing body flew the Sweden flag at half-mast at its headquarters in Zurich on Monday. The Swedish Football Association described Eriksson, known in his homeland as “Svennis”, as “one of Swedish football’s most influential coaches”.
The English FA’s chief executive officer, Mark Bullingham, said it would honour Eriksson before England’s Nations League match against Finland at Wembley next month. “He gave all England fans such special memories,” Bullingham said. “No one can ever forget the 5-1 victory.” David Dein, the former Arsenal and FA vice-chairman, said Eriksson “was a master at riding a storm”.
A documentary about Eriksson’s life, simply entitled ‘Sven’, was released on Amazon Prime last week and contained a message from the man himself that poignantly summed up his good humour, grace and dignity. “Don’t be sorry, smile,” Eriksson said. “Thank you for everything, coaches, players, the crowds, it’s been fantastic. Take care of yourself and take care of your life. And live it. Bye.”
