West Ham United has been saddened by the passing of former England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson at the age of 76.
Born in Sweden, Eriksson enjoyed a 40-year management career that saw him coach clubs in Sweden, Portugal, Italy, England and China, while he also took charge of the Mexico, Ivory Coast and Philippines national teams.
He is most famous in this country for managing England between 2001 and 2006, becoming the country’s first overseas-born manager, leading the national side to a famous 5-1 win over Germany in 2001 before reaching the quarter-finals at the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups and UEFA Euro 2004.
During his reign as Three Lions boss, Eriksson handed senior England debuts to Joe Cole, David james, Trevor Sinclair and Paul Konchesky, while he also capped former and future Hammers Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick, Frank Lampard, Scott Parker and Kieron Dyer.
Eriksson also managed England in their one and only senior international played at West Ham United’s former home, the Boleyn Ground, in February 2003. A friendly international against Australia saw England beaten 3-1 as the Hammers’ David James started in goal and Everton’s Wayne Rooney became England’s youngest ever senior player.
After resigning as England manager in 2006, Eriksson was appointed as Manchester City manager in summer 2007 and his first Premier League match in charge saw him return to east London as City defeated Alan Curbishley’s Hammers 2-0 at the Boleyn Ground.
In all, Eriksson faced West Ham four times in his sole season as City manager, including three meetings in January 2008. The teams drew 0-0 in an FA Cup tie at the Boleyn Ground before City won the replay 1-0 at the City of Manchester Stadium. The Premier League fixture at the same venue four days later finished 1-1.
He returned to English football for a third time in 2009, when he was appointed director of football at League Two club Notts County, and for a fourth in 2010 when he was appointed manager of then-Championship side Leicester City.
Eriksson won 18 trophies in his career, including league titles in Sweden with IFK Göteborg, Portugal with Benfica and Italy with Lazio. He also won the UEFA Cup with Göteborg, the European Cup Winners’ Cup with Lazio, Coppa Italia with Roma, Sampdoria and Lazio, and reached the European Cup final with Benfica.
In all, Eriksson managed over 1,200 matches, winning over half and losing less than a quarter of them.
Regarded as an innovative coach and tactician, and more importantly a gentleman, he passed away after revealing in January this year that he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
The thoughts of everyone at West Ham United are with his loved ones at this sad time. Tributes will be paid at Saturday's Premier League fixture between the Hammers and Manchester City at London Stadium.
