Swedish football manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who led England from 2001 to 2006, passed away on Monday at the age of 76 following a struggle with pancreatic cancer, according to his agent.

"He passed away peacefully this morning with his family by his side at his home," Eriksson's agent Bo Gustavsson informed AFP. The Swede, known for managing several prominent teams and guiding England to the World Cup quarterfinals in 2002 and 2006, announced in February 2023 that he would be stepping away from public life due to "health issues".

In January, he disclosed to Sveriges Radio that he was battling pancreatic cancer and that his doctor had given him a prognosis of "at best maybe a year (to live), at worst a little less". "We have known about this but it happened very quickly. We were not prepared for it to happen today," Gustavsson told AFP.

Born on February 5, 1948 in Sunne, western Sweden, Eriksson, affectionately known as "Svennis" to Swedes, transitioned from a modest career as a defender to a successful football manager. In 1977, he took the helm at Swedish club Degerfors IF. After steering the small club to success in lower divisions, he caught the eye of larger clubs.

He went on to manage Sweden's IFK Goteborg before achieving international success with Benfica in Portugal and several Italian teams including Roma and Lazio. His most notable role was as the first foreign manager of England's national team. Under his leadership, England reached the World Cup quarterfinals in 2002 and 2006, though they were eliminated by Brazil and Portugal respectively.

Eriksson also led England to the last eight of the 2004 Euros, where they were again knocked out by Portugal in a penalty shoot-out. He left the England job in 2006 after five years. His tenure included a memorable 5-1 win over Germany in a World Cup qualifier but was also marred by controversy over his personal life.

"This is a very sad day. He gave all England fans such special memories," said Mark Bullingham, CEO of England's Football Association. "Sven will be rightly recognised and forever remembered for his significant work with the England team, and for his wider contribution to the game," Bullingham continued.

Eriksson later managed Mexico, Ivory Coast, and the Philippines, but never his native Sweden's national squad. In March, he fulfilled a lifelong dream by managing Liverpool Legends in a charity match against Ajax Legends, overseeing a 4-2 win.

Eriksson expressed that the standing ovation and the singing of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' before kick-off were moments he would cherish forever. "That will be a huge memory in life," he said. "Absolutely beautiful."