Sven-Goran Eriksson, 1st foreign manager to lead England team, dies at 76

Sven-Goran Eriksson, the Swedish soccer manager who spent five years as England's first-ever foreign-born coach after making his name winning trophies at club level in Italy, Portugal and Sweden, died Monday. He was 76.

Eriksson died at home surrounded by his family, his agent Bo Gustavsson told The Associated Press. His death followed eight months after he revealed he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had at most a year to live.

That news led to Eriksson receiving a surge of affection and tributes from his former players and clubs, a biographical documentary being made, and a visit to his favourite club Liverpool which invited him to be manager for the day at a charity game.

Fondly known as Svennis in his native Sweden, Eriksson had a modest, nine-year playing career before retiring at the age of 27 and embarking on what proved to be a nomadic coaching career that reached its peak when he was hired by England in 2001.

Eriksson led what was regarded as a golden generati