A softly spoken seducer whose striking private life once overshadowed the actions of royals and celebrities, and under whose influence the phenomenon of the WAG (Wives and Girlfriends) emerged.
During a Downing Street reception in the Tony Blair era, then-Prime Minister Blair offered Sven-Goran Eriksson, the then-England football manager, a wager: “Shall we take a bet? Who keeps the job longest— you or me? We have two impossible jobs.” Blair ultimately outlasted Eriksson by a year, but he wasn’t wrong about the challenges. Eriksson, like every England manager since 1966, struggled with the persistent gap between public expectations and actual results.
Eriksson, who passed away at 76 following an eight-month battle with pancreatic cancer, predicted that his successor, following Gareth Southgate’s resignation, would face the same enduring challenges. Eriksson’s tenure, marked by respectable achievements including a memorable 5-1 victory over Germany in 2001, placed him among the notable England managers, though not at the very top.
What distinguished Eriksson was his impact off the pitch. As the first non-British England manager, he transformed the UK football culture and introduced the ‘WAG’ phenomenon. Under his watch, the concept of footballers’ spouses and partners traveling with the team became popular, highlighted by his own high-profile relationship with Nancy Dell’Olio.
Eriksson’s private life, including affairs with TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson and FA secretary Faria Alam, created significant media attention, overshadowing his professional accomplishments. The scandal involving the News of the World’s ‘fake sheikh’ reporter ultimately ended his England tenure post-2006 World Cup.
Despite controversies, Eriksson remained a dedicated football professional. He continued his career with mixed results, managing teams in Mexico, Manchester City, Notts County, Thailand, and the Philippines. His relationship with Dell’Olio lasted a few more years, and he later partnered with Yaniseth Alcides, a former dancer from Central America.
In his final years, Eriksson reflected positively on his life, emphasizing his love for football and hoping to be remembered for his contributions rather than the scandals. He remained optimistic, asserting, “Hopefully, at the end, people will say, ‘He was a good man.’”
