FILE – Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson loos around before the start of an exhibition soccer match between Liverpool Legends and Ajax Legends at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England, Saturday March 23, 2024. Eriksson the Swedish soccer manager who spent five years as England’s first ever foreign-born coach, has died. He was 76, it was announced on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super, File)
The Philippine football community was among those that mourned the loss of Sven-Goran Eriksson, who had a brief run calling the shots for the PH national men’s team formerly known as the Azkals.
Eriksson died at the age of 76 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, six years after agreeing to coach the Azkals for the 2018 Asean Football Federation (AFF) Championship and the 2019 Asian Cup.
Dan Palami, then the manager of the men’s team, later admitted that they were surprised that the Swedish-born Eriksson accepted the job.
Under Eriksson, the Azkals qualified to the semis of the AFF tourney, then known as Suzuki Cup, going unbeaten in Group B with wins over Singapore and Timor-Leste followed by draws against Thailand, which topped the group, and Indonesia.
“We are saddened by the news of Sven-Goran Eriksson’s passing. It will forever be a point of pride that such a legendary head coach led us in our debut in the Asian Cup in 2019. Our deepest condolences to the loved ones he leaves behind. Rest in Peace Sven,” said the men’s team in a statement posted on its social media accounts. INQ