Former England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson died leaving an unwanted legacy

Former England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson passed away on 26 August 2024 at the age of 76 after a long battle with cancer, leaving behind a memorable legacy both on and off the field.

Eriksson made history as the first non-British manager of the England national team, and guided the Three Lions to the quarter-finals in three major tournaments during his tenure from 2001 to 2006.

The Swedish coach had a distinguished career, managing 12 clubs, including Manchester City, Leicester, Roma and Lazio, and securing 18 trophies. Eriksson also led the national teams of Mexico, Ivory Coast, and the Philippines.

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Off the field, however. It wasn't always plain sailing for Eriksson. It recently came to light that he died £3.7 million in debt after years of financial mismanagement, according to Swedish news outlet the Göteborgs-Posten.

Despite his illustrious career in top-level sport, Eriksson told Expressen in 2017 that he had poor control over his finances: "I have no idea how much money I have and where it is."

At the time of his death, the former coach owed a total of £8.64 million (118 million Swedish Krona), with the largest share (£7.25 million) owed to HMRC, the British tax authorities. With total assets of £4.8m, this leaves his estate with a hefty deficit.

The Swede also revealed that he came close to bankruptcy after losing £10 million to financial adviser Samir Khan, whom he had entrusted with his fortune in 2007. Although he later took Khan to court and won the case, receiving an apology, he admitted that the money was never recovered.

The luxury mansion where Sven spent his final years was listed for sale shortly after his death at what many are calling a "bargain" price. Björkefors Manor, situated on the serene shores of Lake Fryken with meticulously maintained gardens, lush woodland and a private beach, had been put on the market several times during the 2010s, but Sven managed to retain ownership until his passing.

In addition to his financial troubles, in January 2024, Eriksson revealed that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had "at best" a year to live. A documentary on his life titled 'Sven' was released in August and revealed the heartbreaking nature of his illness.

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Eriksson had collapsed during a run at the start of 2024, after which his son, Johan, rushed to the hospital to see his father. "You can kind of tell when the doctor's in tears that... not good. Worst possible news," Johan revealed in the documentary.

Erkisson's daughter, Lina, said, "We found out that he had had five strokes, and then you go into a state of fear. A panic mode," after seeing her father in the hospital.

After retiring as a player at 27, Eriksson began his managerial career with Degerfors in 1977, before moving to IFK Göteborg, where he won the Swedish title, two Swedish Cups, and the 1982 UEFA Cup.

He later managed Portuguese giants Benfica and Italian clubs Roma, Fiorentina, Sampdoria, and Lazio, where he collected seven trophies, including the Serie A title, two Italian Cups, and the European Cup Winners' Cup.

Despite his deteriorating health, Eriksson spent time this year visiting several of his former clubs, including Lazio and Sampdoria. In March, the lifelong Liverpool fan helped lead a Liverpool Legends team to a 4-2 victory over an Ajax Legends side at Anfield.

In the aforementioned documentary, Eriksson shared a heartfelt parting message: "I hope you will remember me as a positive guy who tried his best. Don't be sad, smile. Thank you to everyone—coaches, players, fans—it's been fantastic. Take care of yourselves and live life fully."

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