"True gentleman of the game...tributes pour in as respected ex-England boss Sven dies at 76

THE football world united yesterday to pay tribute to former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who has died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 76.

- Giles Sheldrick

Prince William led an outpouring of affection for the popular and respected Swede, describing him as a "true gentleman".

Managing a "golden generation" of players -including David Beckham, Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney - the national team's first foreign boss led the Three Lions to three successive major tournament quarter-finals.

His five-year stint in the "impossible job" between 2001 and 2006 replaced gloom with pride and a string of his former stars lined up to give glowing eulogies in praise of the best coach they had worked with.

In a personal tribute, the Prince of Wales, 42, president of the Football Association, said: "I met him several times as England manager and was always struck by his charisma and passion for the game.

"My thoughts are with his family and friends. A true gentleman of the game. W" Sven was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer after suffering a stroke while out running near his home in Sweden.

He revealed he was terminally ill at the start of this year, saying he had "at best" only 12 months to live.

His children Lina and Johan, his daughter and son from a 17-year marriage to AnnChristine Pettersson, said in their tribute: "We hope that you will remember Svennis as the good and positive person he always was both in public and at home with us." Becks, 49, Sven's talismanic captain, went to see his old boss at his home in June, arriving in Sweden with six litres of wine to toast their shared memories and say goodbye.

Before his death, the Swede recalled of the visit: "He came with wine from dates that were important to me. He had wine from 1948 the year I was born, very nice of him.