Sven-Goran Eriksson, Swedish soccer coach who was first foreigner 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 one 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 favorite club Liverpool which invited him to be manager for the day at a charity game.

“As a coach, Sven-Goran was both a great innovator and a true ambassador of our beautiful game,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino, one of many leading figures in the sport to pay tribute to Eriksson on Monday.

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.

Within months, he led an underachieving team to a stunning signature win — 5-1 against Germany in Munich in a World Cup qualifying game.

Eriksson led what was regarded as a “golden generation” of players, including David Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney, at the World Cups in 2002 and 2006 and got the team to the quarterfinals at both tournaments before elimination by Brazil and Portugal, respectively.

In the only other major tournament under Eriksson — the European Championship in 2004 — England was also ousted at the quarterfinal stage, by Portugal and via a penalty shootout like at the World Cup in 2006.

“We laughed, we cried and we knew we were saying goodbye," Beckham wrote in a post on Instagram alongside footage of a recent meeting with Eriksson, who made him captain of the national team.

“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.'”

Eriksson’s tenure in one of world soccer’s most high-profile jobs was remembered almost as much for what happened off the field as on it. He had two affairs — one with Swedish TV personality Ulrika Jonsson and the other with a secretary at the Football Association, Faria Alam — which kept England’s gossip-hungry newspapers busy.

“My private life was not very private in England,” Eriksson said in 2018.

His time with England coincided with the emergence of a WAG (wives and girlfriends) culture, with the high-profile partners of the players — like Victoria Beckham — making headlines after Eriksson allowed them to come to the World Cup in Germany.

Eriksson later had brief spells in charge of the Mexico, Ivory Coast and Philippines national teams but the only silverware he earned came in the club game.

At Swedish team IFK Gothenburg, he won the league-and-cup double in 1982 and capped a stunning season by also capturing the now-defunct UEFA Cup.

Eriksson won back-to-back Portuguese titles in an initial two-year stint with Benfica (1982-84), as well as the Portuguese Cup in 1983, and returned there to reach the European Cup final in 1990 — losing to AC Milan — and win the league again in 1991.

It was in Italy where he became a major coaching name, primarily at Lazio after spells at Roma (1984-87) and Sampdoria (1992-97) — where he won Italian Cups — and Fiorentina (1987-89).

At Lazio from 1997-2001, he led to the team to only its second league title — in 2000 — after a late-season collapse by Juventus, as well as two Italian Cups and the last ever edition of the European Cup Winners’ Cup (in 1999).

Eriksson’s Lazio could have won Serie A in 1999, too, only to be beaten to the title by a point by AC Milan and also lost the final of the UEFA Cup in ’98.

“It was the best period of my career,” Eriksson said of winning seven trophies in a four-year stretch, at a time when Italy was rivaling Spain as the Europe’s top soccer league.

Eriksson benefited from the heavy spending of its owner, Sergio Cragnotti, at Lazio, with the Scudetto-winning team containing big names like Juan Sebastián Verón, Pavel Nedved and Sinisa Mihajlovic. It continued the following season when the Roman club, seeking to win the Champions League, spent a world-record fee to buy Hernan Crespo and also bought fellow Argentine striker Claudio López but Eriksson didn’t finish the season after being enticed by the England job.

He also had two year-long stints in club management in England, at Manchester City (2007-08) and Leicester (2010-11), either side of a spell as director of football at fourth-tier Notts County after it came briefly into the kind of money — following its purchase by a consortium from the Middle East — that could attract a high-profile name like Eriksson.

Bespectacled and a straight talker, Eriksson was popular with his players throughout his coaching career and was regarded as an excellent man-manager. He exuded a calm authority in the locker room and was never afraid of making big decisions, like selling Guiseppe Signori — the captain and star striker at Lazio — because Eriksson didn’t think the player was a good influence. Lazio won the league the following season.

Eriksson finished his coaching career by managing two clubs in China — Guangzhou and Shanghai SIPG — and more recently had the role of sporting director at Karlstad, a team in Sweden’s third division, before announcing in February 2023 that he’d be standing down for health reasons.

They became widely known 11 months later when Eriksson told Swedish Radio he had terminal cancer, saying: “At best I have maybe a year, at worst maybe a little less.”

“I could go and think about it all the time and sit at home and be grumpy and think I’m unlucky and so on,” he said. “I think that is easily done, that you end up there.

“No, look at things positively and don’t wallow in adversity. Because this is, of course, the biggest setback.”

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Eriksson “lives on in the hearts of the Swedish people.”

“Svennis' importance to football, in Sweden and outside Sweden, cannot be overestimated,” Kristersson said. "I can only imagine how many girls and boys have started playing football — and dared to dream — because of his efforts. Thanks for everything Svennis!”

Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, contributed to this report

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

FILE - England's manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, left and player David Beckham are photographed during a training session, in Manchester, England, June 1, 2006. Eriksson the Swedish soccer manager who spent five years as England’s first ever foreign-born coach, has died. He was 76, it was announced on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP, File)

FILE - Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson waves to the crowd after an exhibition soccer match between Liverpool Legends and Ajax Legends at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England, Saturday March 23, 2024. Eriksson the Swedish soccer manager who spent five years as England’s first ever foreign-born coach, has died. He was 76, it was announced on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super, File)

FILE - England soccer manager Sven-Goran Eriksson smiles during a press conference at Football Association headquarters in London, Tuesday Jan. 24, 2006. Eriksson the Swedish soccer manager who spent five years as England’s first ever foreign-born coach, has died. He was 76, it was announced on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024. (Andrew Parsons, Pool via AP, File)

FILE _ England soccer team coach Sven Goran Eriksson, right, and his partner Nancy get ready for the start of the English Premiership soccer match between Arsenal and Manchester United, played at Highbury stadium in London, Sunday March 28, 2004. Eriksson the Swedish soccer manager who spent five years as England’s first ever foreign-born coach, has died. He was 76, it was announced on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.(AP Photo/Richard Lewis, File)

FILE - England's manager Sven Goran Eriksson, left, and captain David Beckham of Real Madrid, right, take part in a tour at Wembley stadium, in London, Tuesday May 23, 2006. Eriksson the Swedish soccer manager who spent five years as England’s first ever foreign-born coach, has died. He was 76, it was announced on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File)

FILE - Leicester's manager Sven-Goran Eriksson looks on before his team's English FA Cup third round replay soccer match against Manchester City in Manchester, England, Tuesday Jan. 18, 2011 file photo. Eriksson the Swedish soccer manager who spent five years as England’s first ever foreign-born coach, has died. He was 76, it was announced on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super, File)

FILE - England coach Sven Goran Eriksson, fourth from the left, gives instructions to his players during a training session at Carrington training ground in Manchester, England, Monday Oct. 10, 2005 ahead of their World Cup qualifying soccer match against Poland. Eriksson the Swedish soccer manager who spent five years as England’s first ever foreign-born coach, has died. He was 76, it was announced on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super, File)

FILE - England national soccer team manager Sven-Goran Eriksson kicks a ball during a squad training session for the World Cup at Mittelbergstadion in Buehlertal, Germany, Thursday June 29, 2006. Eriksson the Swedish soccer manager who spent five years as England’s first ever foreign-born coach, has died. He was 76, it was announced on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)

FILE - Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson loos around before the start of an exhibition soccer match between Liverpool Legends and Ajax Legends at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England, Saturday March 23, 2024. Eriksson the Swedish soccer manager who spent five years as England’s first ever foreign-born coach, has died. He was 76, it was announced on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super, File)

SEATTLE (AP) — Kumar Rocker's debut in the majors finally arrived. It was a mixed bag for his highly anticipated first outing.

Rocker threw four innings for the Texas Rangers on Thursday night in their series opener against the Seattle Mariners. It was the conclusion of a lengthy journey through the pro game for the one-time college phenom and the top pitching prospect in the Rangers organization.

With his parents watching from the stands, Rocker endured a shaky start, giving up a single to Victor Robles on the first pitch of his career and a dribbling single to Julio Rodriguez. But he escaped the first without damage getting strikeouts of Cal Raleigh and Randy Arozarena, and a flyout to the warning track from Luke Raley.

He eventually struck out seven, at times leaving Seattle hitters guessing. Rocker missed a chance to leave with the lead after giving up the first run of his career on Justin Turner’s solo homer in the fourth, but watched as his teammates came back from a three-run deficit to claim a 5-4 win over the Mariners.

Rocker was pulled after throwing 74 pitches. He allowed three hits and walked two to go along with the seven strikeouts.

“We got him where we wanted him, around 75 pitches, and he’s got to feel good about that start,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “I’m sure he was nervous out there, and then the first two guys get hits, and, you know, he’s got runners in scoring position, nobody out, and he made pitches when he had to. So it says a lot about him.”

After being a dominant star in college at Vanderbilt, Rocker was the 10th overall pick by the Mets in 2021 amateur draft and went unsigned due to medical concerns. Texas drafted him third overall in 2022 and he has recovered from Tommy John surgery in May 2023 to earn the promotion leading to Thursday’s debut.

"It’s been an incredible journey," Kumar Rocker's mother, Lu Rocker said on the Rangers TV broadcast. “And he’s just come out just fighting, putting his head down, and just working hard.”

Rocker smiled when talking about having his parents in the stands for his first start in the big leagues.

“(It means) a lot. I’ve been blessed,” Rocker said. “And I also play for them. Everything I do is for them, from college to here, just trying to make them proud.”

Texas general manager Chris Young said it was a “fun weekend” for the Rangers with Rocker's debut, followed by Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer scheduled to start Friday and Saturday.

“Obviously we’re getting Max and Jacob back on subsequent days and then on top of that having our top draft pick from a couple of years ago make his debut. Someone who is not just making a September debut, someone who has really kind of flown through the minor leagues because of his performance who has now earned the opportunity to pitch in the big leagues,” Young said.

The 24-year-old Rocker has a 1.96 ERA in 10 games for three different Rangers affiliates since July 5. In his final two starts for Triple-A Round Rock, he had 18 strikeouts over 10 innings, and finished with 47 strikeouts and four walks in 29 2/3 innings over seven starts combined for Double-A Frisco and Round Rock.

“I'm excited. I'll say that. The fans should be. This is a big part of our future when you're looking at Kumar and Jack (Leiter) and young guys that come up,” Bochy said.

For Rocker, the key to bouncing back from his tough start to the game was to rely on his “favorites”— a sinker, and his wipeout slider that helped lead to 17 swings and misses from Seattle.

“That’s the beauty of that pitch,” Rocker said. “I'm glad I have it, glad I work on it, and things can be a little bit better once that (fastball) command comes back.”

Rocker's dad, Tracy, is the defensive line coach for the Tennessee Titans. Tracy Rocker left the team following practice on Thursday to fly to see his son make his first start.

“Forget being a coach. Now he’s the happiest parent, you know, one of the happiest parents in the world,” Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson said. “And to be able to go to see your son throw out the first pitch in a Major League Baseball game and your son has gone through the adversity he has and went through the minors to get to this point? Man, it’s a hell of a feeling.”

While the journey to get to the big leagues was long and winding, Rocker’s parents never had a doubt he’d get here.

“At 2 years old, I told my husband he’s going to be a pitcher,” Lu Rocker said.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker, center, greets his father and Tennessee Titans defensive line coach Tracy Rocker, left, and mother Lalitha Rocker, right, after his major league debut in a 5-4 win over the Seattle Mariners in a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker, facing, greets his father and Tennessee Titans defensive line coach Tracy Rocker, after his major league debut in a 5-4 win over the Seattle Mariners in a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker throws against the Seattle Mariners in his major league debut during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker receives a new ball after striking out Seattle Mariners' Randy Arozarena during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker walks in the dugout after facing the Seattle Mariners during the third inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker walks back to the dugout after facing the Seattle Mariners during the second inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker throws against the Seattle Mariners during the second inning of a baseball game in his major league debut, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker sits in the dugout before facing the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker warms up before his major league debut against the Seattle Mariners in a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)