President Claudio Lotito said Eriksson was a “lovely man and Lazio won’t forget him”.
“He wasn’t just the most successful coach in Lazio’s history, but he was above all a man of huge integrity and a lovely and gentlemanly person, who combined those gifts with a typical Nordic aplomb.
“His courage in facing the illness that struck him was an example and lesson for anyone who heard him.
“In the interviews he gave in the last months, he succeeded in infusing love for life and football.
“I remember him at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, excited like a kid on his return to the capital.
“When we spoke at length, I was struck by his serenity, and we gave each other a strong hug.
“I saw him walk towards the sideline, slowly going round the stadium.
“All our Lazio people, as he passed by, shouted words of thanks and affection, an almost palpable emotion, with tears streaming down their faces.
“And he responded to their chants with the strength of his smile.
“I’d like to hug him again, to whisper in his ear that Lazio will never forget him.
“I send emotional condolences to his family; football and the world have lost a great man.”
Lazio and Italy defensive legend Alessandro Nesta said Eriksson was an “extraordinary person and I will always keep you in my heart”.
“Thanks for everything” said the skipper of that great Biancocelesti team that also featured Roberto Mancini, Pavel Nedved, Fabrizio Ravanelli, Diego Simeone, Sinisa Mihajlovic, Juan Sebastian Veron, Dejan Stankovic, Attilio Lombardi, Sérgio Conceição, Marcelo Salas, Fernando Couto, Matias Almeyda, Luca Marchegiani and Alen Boksic.
Lazio’s first scudetto was with the Giorgio Chinaglia-led team of 1974.
Meanwhile, cross-city rivals Roma also voiced condolences to the family of the manager who led them from 1984 to 87, winning an Coppa Italia in 1986.
“Rome mourns the passing of Sven-Goran Eriksson,” said Roma in a statement.
“He led the Giallorossi from 1984 to 1987, winning a Coppa Italia.
“Our thoughts go out to his family in this time of grief.”
Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri said the whole of Rome is paying tribute to Eriksson.
“All of sporting Rome pays homage to Sven-Goran Eriksson, a great manager who left an indelible mark in the history of world and Roman football, in particular leading Lazio to the scudetto,” said the first citizen of the Italian capital.
“His living with an implacable tumour that had struck him was an example of dignity, love and courage which moved the whole world.”
Eriksson announced that he had terminal cancer in January and had “at most a year to live”.
Sampdoria also remembered its former coach as a “gentleman”.
In a message published on its website, the team said: “The first word that springs to mind when we think about him is dignity.”
Eriksson, who coached Sampdoria for five seasons, starting in 1992, battled cancer “with courage and composure”, showing “human dignity”.
Sampdoria’s statement also recalled how it had invited Eriksson on May 5 for a great celebration with fans and many of his former players.
“Sven leaves us unforgettable emotions, memories and especially a great moral inheritance” as football’s “gentleman”, the statement noted.
Eriksson led Sampdoria to the Coppa Italia in 1994.
Eriksson’s second Italian club, Fiorentina, also remembered him.
“Fiorentina joins the family in mourning the passing of Sven Göran Eriksson,” it said.
“The Swedish coach held the role of Viola manager from 1987 to 1989.”
Outside of the footballing world, Giorgia Meloni said Eriksson had left an indelible mark on football.
The Italian prime minister, who is not known to support any football club, quoted Eriksson’s words in announcing his incurable cancer in January.
“I hope you will remember me as a positive guy who tried to do everything possible. Don’t be sorry, smile,” read the quote.
“Thank you for everything, coaches, players, the public, it was great. Take care of yourselves and take care of your life. And live it.”
“He has left an indelible mark on the world of football, leading in his long career also the benches of Roma, Fiorentina, Sampdoria and Lazio, with which he won a historic Scudetto,” said Meloni.
During his long career, Eriksson also hit the gossip pages with his glamorous partner Nancy Dell’Olio and relationships with TV personality Ulrika Jonsson and Football Association secretary Faria Alam.
The Swede also managed England (its first foreign coach), Mexico, Ivory Coast, Göteborg, Benfica, Manchester City, Leicester City, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen and most recently, the Philippines.
Liverpool recently made him honorary manager for a day, fulfilling a dream.
ANSA
