England is set to honor former Three Lions and Manchester City manager Sven-Göran Eriksson before their Nations League match against Finland on Tuesday, following his passing last month.
Eriksson, who passed away on August 26 at the age of 76, managed England at two World Cups (2002, 2006) and Euro 2004, as well as taking charge of Manchester City during the 2007/08 season. To commemorate his legacy, a video tribute will be played at Wembley ahead of the match, and England players will wear black armbands in his memory. A moment of applause is also scheduled before kick-off, honoring not just Eriksson but also the recent deaths of Craig Shakespeare, Kevin Campbell, and Tommy Banks.
Eriksson had revealed earlier this year that he was battling pancreatic cancer and had been given a grim prognosis of just a year to live. He stepped down from his role as sporting director at Karlstad, a Swedish club, 11 months ago due to health concerns.
His children released a heartfelt statement following his death, thanking supporters for the outpouring of love and well-wishes that Eriksson received after his diagnosis. “Our thoughts go out to Sven-Göran’s father, Sven; girlfriend Yaniseth and her son Alcides; brother Lasse and his wife Jumnong, and to all good friends and acquaintances in Sweden and around the world,” the statement read.
“Dad told us about his illness earlier this year and received an overwhelming response from friends and football fans across Europe. He visited football clubs in England, Italy, Portugal, and Sweden, sharing the love for the game. He expressed his gratitude, saying he was lucky to hear such kind words before passing, something that made him feel incredibly fortunate.”
England captain Harry Kane spoke about Eriksson on Monday, saying, “He’s one of our most famous and beloved managers. It’ll be a tough night for a lot of England fans and players. Though I never met him, I know he was a great person and a loyal manager. He’ll be remembered as one of England’s best, and we send our condolences to his family.”
This tribute at Wembley will allow fans and players to celebrate Eriksson’s contributions to football while reflecting on his lasting impact on both England and Manchester City.
