Sven Goran Erikson 76 a Swedish Football manager who was the first foreign manager of the England national team passed away before joining the England team in 2001 Ericson a pleasant man and charismatic coach guided Swedish Portuguese and Italian teams to significant titles he revealed in January that he was terminally sick with pancreatic cancer boara Eric 's longtime agent reported that the athlete passed away early on Monday local time while surrounded by his loved ones we knew it was going to end bad it all went really fast in the last few weeks first ston stated Prince Williams who supports the Football Association expressed that he was always struck by Erikson's Charisma and passion the Prince of Wales referred to him as a true gentleman of the game in a heartful tribute on social media Erikson received praise from the British prime minister sir Kia starm as well as from clubs players and political and football leaders in Sweden England and other countries Erikson affectionately referred to as Dennis in his home Sweden had a brief playing career before quitting at the age of 27 to begin a career as a traveling coach that peaked in 2000 and one when he was employed by England his best performance with them was arguably the 5 to1 victory in Munich over Germany shortly after he assumed leadership during the 2002 World Cup qualifying round the soero loan victory over the Three Lions a 3 to1 loss to Australia in London was one of his worst he changed Fifer rules at halim by substituting all 11 players with David Beckham Wayne Rooney and Steven Jared this was England's golden generation however Erikson's team only made it to Major quarterfinals in the World Cups in 2002 and 2006 as well as the 2004 European Championship where they lost both games in penalty shootouts in 2006 a tabloid sting and public attention to Erikson's personal life drove him to resign from his England position Erikson was always confused by this although he never expressed his bitterness