Yesterday the death was announced of Sven Goran Eriksson. After a battle with Pancreatic Cancer since January 2024, the 76 year old passed away in his home town of Sunne in Sweden. Among the hundreds of tributes to the quiet leader that was Sven, here is The Cult of Calcio’s ode to one of the greatest coaches to ever grace Serie A and a look at his many successes on the Peninsula.
A Leader Learns His Trade
After leading a team of semi-professional Goteborg players (one of their goalscorers being a plumber) to a historic first European trophy for a Swedish team through UEFA Cup Success Eriksson gained fame around Europe and it wasn’t long until he was on course to being one of the most revered coaches of nineties Italian football. his next stepping stone was at Benfica. At one of the most storied clubs in Football he contested another UEFA Cup final and lost out on Champions League glory against the mighty Milan of Arrigo Sacchi in the 1990 showpiece.
Over an unbelievable two year spell the Swede won two league titles and a domestic cup all while losing just three matches. Soon after Eriksson was on his way to the eternal city.
Sven Is Introduced to Italy
in the summer of 1984 the coach was appointed at Roma where he remained for three years. A victory in the 1986 Coppa Italia ensured he has the unique distinction of winning silverware with both the Giallorossi and their city rivals Lazio. his gentle ways endeared him to the Romanisti who always maintained respect for their former gaffer, even when he was enjoying Scudetto success cross-town. Never one to hang about too long Eriksson went from one beautiful city to another and took over as Fiorentina boss.
Unfortunately for the Viola faithful his time with their club was his most disappointing. Finishing seventh and eighth in two seasons was compounded by issues he faced with the club owners and their lack of support for his technical needs led to a sour ending in Tuscany. Very public spats were the final straw and almost exactly two years after arriving Svennis was on the road again. Probably in need of a holiday from Italian football’s…demanding owners he returned to Benfica. Like everywhere he went he won more trophies – another league title in 1991.
In 1992 Sampdoria came calling and Eriksson answered. He gained some valuable coaching experience and developed his 4-4-2 formation further with a system that peaked with a third place finish in Serie A and a Coppa Italia victory in 1994, all while scoring the most goals in the league. while managing at the Genovese club he met with Roberto Mancini. The pair developed a close relationship and Mancini became an apprentice to the Swede, following him to Lazio in 1997. Ruud Gullit, David Platt and Attilio Lombardo played a pivotal role during that fantastic 1993-94 season.
The Greatest Lazio Side Ever?
In the summer of 1997 both Blackburn and Lazio wanted the service of Eriksson. Having agreed to join the former a phone call from Sergio Cragnotti swayed him back towards the capital. Cragnotti was hungry to win Serie A and promised Eriksson a sizeable budget. A Scudetto had so far alluded him so he decided to take on the challenge with the Biancocelesti.
Despite finishing seventh in his maiden campaign a record four derby victories and an unforgettable Coppa Italia final turn around versus Milan was more than enough to win over the Laziali. Sven began to craft his “greatest ever team”. Over that 1998 summer Cragnotti capitalised on the early success and went on a spending spree.
Christian Vieri, Marcelo Salas, Sergio Conceicao and the late great Sinisa Mihaijlovic all joined the Aquile. Despite a slow start this great team finished second and found success at both ends of the season. starting with a Supercoppa Italiana victory over Juventus and capping it off with European triumph in the Cup Winner’s Cup against Mallorca. Lazio’s first ever European trophy will forever be associated with one of their greatest managers.
Scudetto 2000
The best was yet to come though. New additions Simone Inzaghi and Juan Sebastian Veron helped add another dimension to the Biancocelesti for 1999-00. Kicking the season off with a UEFA Supercup win against treble winners Manchester United a historic season for both club and coach followed. With Sven’s 4-5-1 formation Lazio charged to their second ever Serie A title and completed the domestic double with the Coppa Italia. Not a bad way to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the club.
For many Laziali, Eriksson will always be a part of that unforgettable season when they listened intently on Transistor Radios intently at the Stadio Olimpico to Juve’s demise at Perugia on the final day. Wild celebrations engulfed the capital in what for most Laziali was the golden age. Svennis will forever be a Hero in Rome as the mastermind behind Lazio’s greatest ever team. In October he left Lazio for England’s national team where he became a fan favorite.
“Do I Shout? No Not Ever”
The Swedish manager who provided these memories did it all his own, calm way. A calm way with a smile that endeared him to players and supporters alike. In an interview some years ago Eriksson claimed he treated “football players like my children” and hardly ever raised his voice in the dressing room. A new and different leadership style set him apart from his peers and was the catalyst for his triumph so many times. Where other managers would turn to the hairdryer treatment, Eriksson put an arm around his players in a relaxed manner that encouraged a good atmosphere in dressing rooms and on the pitch were his ideas were executed with precision time and time again.
On the Pitch
Taking inspiration from Roy Hodgson and his 4-4-2 formation, like any great manager Sven tweaked and altered his game plan for each environment while always sticking to the same basic principals. With the quality afforded to him by Cragnotti at Lazio the 4-5-1 deployed would become a 4-3-2-1 or even a 4-1-4-1 with focus on the wide areas and quick short passing moves designed to keep the ball and tire opponents. Defensively the great team played a Zona Mista. A system which was a hybrid of zonal and man marking. High quality defenders were needed for this system but with the likes of Alessandro Nesta in the back four this wasn’t an issue.
“That Gentle Smile of His”
Eriksson’s relationship with each and every player was unique and special so it is no wonder so many have expressed immense grief at his passing. His Prodige Mancini said he was a wonderful man and a brilliant coach. Not many can say they still hold a place in the hearts of so many.
In May Mister Eriksson was presented to the Olimpico crowd in a touching tribute. His biggest strength was his ability to care about the many and the individual all at once as well as being a deep thinking man. The essence of Sven is captured in this anecdote from former defender Dietmar Hammann who was relaxing on a sun lounger at 10 in the morning when the gaffer approached with Champagne and sat down:
” I looked up and said ‘Boss what are we celebrating?’ He turned to me and smiled with that gentle smile of his and took on the air of a Buddhist philosopher as he said, ‘Life, Kaiser’ Then after pausing for dramatic affect, ‘We’re celebrating life.”
Sven Goran Eriksson gave so much to Italian football, but he was more than a manager, he was both a Gentleman and a Gentle man.
Grazie Mister Sven.