WORLD SOCCER
Former Mexico and Manchester City coach Sven-Göran Eriksson reveals he has 12 months left to live
Eriksen had huge success with Lazio in Italy and managed England at two World Cups and the 2004 European Championship.
Former Mexico, England and Manchester City manager Sven-Göran Eriksson, who managed teams in 10 different countries in a 40-year coaching career, has revealed he has terminal cancer and has been told he has a maximum of 12 months left to live. “At best, I have a year left. At worst, a bit less,” he confessed in an interview with Swedish public radio station Radio Sweden. The 75-year-old added he would “resist as long as he can.”
“Svennis”, as he is affectionately known, said that instead of sitting at home “complaining about having bad luck” he prefers to have a “positive” outlook and not give in to “adversity”.
Last year, Eriksen left his post as advisor to Swedish third-tier side IF Karlstad, citing health problems. It was his most recent position in the world of soccer, more than four decades after he took up his first as manager of Degerfors IF in 1978, when he was 29.
Eriksen’s success in Sweden, Portugal and Italy
After winning the league and a UEFA Cup with Swedish side Gothenburg, he moved to Benfica, where he won three leagues in two spells, and then Italy, where he managed for 14 years. Although his time at Fiorentina ended trophy-less, he won the Coppa Italia with both Roma and Sampdoria. But it was at Lazio where he enjoyed most success, winning Serie A in 1999-20, along with six other trophies, including two domestic cups and the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.
Later, he had short spells in English club soccer with Manchester City and Leicester City, which came after he had begun his career as an international manager, first with England and then with Mexico, Ivory Coast and the Philippines. He also had spells in China and Thailand in recent years.
International disappointments with England and Mexico
The Swede became the first non-English coach of the England national team in 2001, staying in his post until 2006. Eriksen led the Three Lions at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups and then 2004 European Championship, losing in the quarter-finals in all three tournaments.
He then had an underwhelming spell in charge of Mexico, winning six and losing six of his 13 matches in charge. Eriksen was involved in the country’s qualification for the 2010 World Cup, although Javier Aguirre ultimately secured the Mexicans’ spot in South Africa after replacing the Swede as coach.