Sven-Goran Eriksson, charismatic England coach, dies at 76

Sven-Goran Eriksson, charismatic England coach, dies at 76

The Swedish manager became the first foreigner to lead the Three Lions in 2001.

Sweden Soccer Eriksson FILE - This Tuesday Jan. 18, 2011 file photo shows then Leicester's manager Sven-Goran Eriksson before his team's English FA Cup third round replay soccer match against Manchester City in Manchester, England. Swedish soccer coach Sven-Goran Eriksson says he has cancer and might have less than a year to live. The former England coach has told Swedish Radio he discovered he had cancer after collapsing suddenly. (AP Photo/Jon Super, File)
Sven-Goran Eriksson announced earlier this year that he was terminally ill with pancreatic cancer. (AP pic)
STOCKHOLM:
Swedish football manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who became the first foreigner to lead the England national team, died today at the age of 76, his agent said.

Eriksson, a charismatic coach who led Swedish, Portuguese and Italian clubs to major trophies in the 1980s and 1990s before taking on the England job in 2001, announced earlier this year that he was terminally ill with pancreatic cancer.

His agent Bo Gustavsson told Reuters he had passed away this morning.

Eriksson led the Three Lions to the quarterfinals of the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, and at the 2004 European Championship, managing a golden generation of players, including David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard.

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