Lazio have paid tribute to their former manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who passed away last week, aged 76.
The legendary Swedish coach had been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic in January, but finally succumbed to the disease on Monday.
Since then, the football world has come together to both mourn the loss of managerial icon, and celebrate the the life of a man who achieved so much in the game.
Lazio led their own tributes on Saturday, before they took on AC Milan in a Serie A clash at their home ground, the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
A three-minute compilation of Eriksson’s successes at the club started proceedings, which included highlights of Lazio’s Scudetto-winning season of 1999-2000.
Sven-Goran Eriksson passed away on Monday, aged 76, after battling pancreatic cancer
Players and fans alike paid tribute to Eriksson, as fans unfurled a massive banner in the stands
Eriksson guided the club to a Serie A-Coppa Italia double in his third season with the Italian club, as well as the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup and Super Cup, among others.
Fans around the stadium also unfurled banners that had ‘Bon Voyage, Mr Sven’ emblazoned across it.
The club also released a social video showing a bird’s-eye view of the pitch’s centre-circle covered by a full-sized banner that bore the simple message, ‘Sven Goran Eriksson. 1948-2024. Forever’.
Club legend Dario Marcolin, who was central to Lazio’s Scudetto-winning season, walked out with a special shirt to commemorate the late manager.
Eriksson’s family announced the tragic news in a statement on Monday, which read: ‘After a long illness, Sven-Goran Eriksson died during the morning at home surrounded by family.
‘The closest mourners are daughter Lina; son Johan with wife Amana and granddaughter Sky; father Sven; girlfriend Yanisette with son Alcides; brother Lars-Erik with wife Jumnong.
‘The family asks for respect for their wish to mourn in private and not be contacted. Condolences and greetings can be left on the website www.svengoraneriksson.com.’
Eriksson led Lazio to the club’s second-ever Scudetto during their 1999-2000 season
Eriksson was most famous for his time in charge of England, but despite coaching what was dubbed a ‘Golden Generation’, he was unable to lead the Three Lions to glory.
At the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, along with Euro 2004, England were knocked out at the quarter-final stage as Eriksson struggled to cultivate a successful team, amid a myriad of club divides within the squad.
Nevertheless, Eriksson won 40 of his 67 games in charge and enjoyed subsequent international stints with Mexico, Ivory Coast and the Philippines.
Despite his lack of success with the Three Lions, he remained hugely popular in the UK – where he later coached Manchester City and Leicester – and received a significant outpouring of love and support after his terminal cancer diagnosis.