Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson dies aged 76

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport’s chief football writer

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Eriksson first came to widespread prominence when he led IFK Gothenburg to the UEFA Cup in 1982, beating Hamburg 4–0 on aggregate to give the Swedish club their first European success.

He caught the attention of Benfica, with whom he won two titles but was unable to repeat his success in the UEFA Cup, losing the 1983 final to Anderlecht.

He played for Roma, with whom he won the Coppa Italia, and Fiorentina before returning to Lisbon, leading them to the 1990 European Cup final before losing 1-0 to the legendary Milan team led by Arrigo Sacchi.

There was a strange episode in Eriksson’s career in December 1996 when he agreed to become manager of Blackburn Rovers at the start of the 1997–98 season. He then backed out of the deal three months later, leaving fellow future England manager Roy Hodgson to take charge at Ewood Park, while Eriksson was appointed manager of Lazio.

At Lazio, after winning another Coppa Italia with Sampdoria in 1994, Eriksson won the hearts and minds of the FA when the search began for Keegan’s successor.

Lazio under Eriksson won the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1999 with a 2-1 win over Mallorca at Villa Park, having lost to Inter Milan in the UEFA Cup final the previous season.

Lazio won the Coppa Italia twice and then won the Serie A title in 1999 and 2000 under Eriksson, making him England’s number one target.