+ Sven-Göran "Svennis" Eriksson, soccer, 1948-2024.
"Svennis" broke through in IFK Göteborg in the 1980s, when he led Blåvitt to, among other things, victory in the UEFA Cup. Then soccer took him out into the world, and the Swede coached, among others, Benfica, Lazio, Manchester City, and was the national team captain for England. Eriksson died of cancer in the pancreas. The funeral was, according to his wish, a popular one. Among the guests were, for example, David Beckham.
He didn't want it to be a sad ceremony. He wanted it to be happy with a lot of music, humor, and celebration. He wanted to have a party, said Lina Eriksson at the funeral.
+ Kurt "Kurre" Hamrin, soccer, 1934-2024.
Hamrin was the last player alive who was on the pitch in the classic World Championship match against Brazil in 1958 when Sweden took World Championship silver. Moreover, the classic 3–1 goal on Ullevi in the World Championship semifinal against West Germany stands out as one of the most beautiful Swedish national team goals ever.
"Hamrin was and will always be a legend for all soccer fans and especially for Fiorentina fans. He still holds the record for goals in the purple jersey together with Batistuta", wrote Serie A club on Instagram.
+ Arne Hegerfors, TV personality, 1942-2024.
Hegerfors guided viewers through some of the biggest sports moments over 40 years on TV and became a popular entertainer on top of that.
In 2011, Arne Hegerfors suffered a massive heart attack, followed by a stroke and a brain tumor. The last years were tough for the sports profile, who had to follow his favorite sports from home on the TV couch instead. His wife Kerstin became an important person.
+ Boo Ahl, ice hockey, 1969-2024.
Goalkeeper legend passed away at the age of 54. According to HV71, he died during a vacation trip.
Ahl started his career as a little one at HV71's hockey school and was then part of taking the club's first Swedish Championship gold in 1995. In addition, Ahl took silver in connection with the World Championship 1995 and another Swedish Championship gold in 2004.
+ Franz Beckenbauer, Germany, soccer, 1945-2024.
He spent most of his career at Bayern München. The German giant had never won the European Cup, today's Champions League, when Beckenbauer, as team captain, led the club to victory in the 1973-1974 season. In 1974, he was also team captain for the World Championship-winning West Germany. 16 years later, Beckenbauer, who was called "Der Kaiser" and won the Ballon d'Or twice, led West Germany to new World Championship gold – this time as national team captain.
+ OJ Simpson, USA, American football, 1947-2024.
The NFL career ended in 1979, and 16 years later, Simpson was suspected of the double murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. The trial began the same year and was broadcast live on American TV. After several months, he was declared not guilty in what has been called the "Trial of the Century".
Two years later, Simpson was sentenced to pay millions in damages to Brown and Goldman's families.
In September 2007, he was sentenced for armed robbery, kidnapping, and burglary. He received a long prison sentence and became a free man only in October 2017.
Simpson died after a battle against cancer.
+ Johnny Gaudreau, USA, ice hockey, 1993-2024.
Johnny Gaudreau became one of the NHL's biggest stars during his more than eight seasons in Calgary. He got the nickname "Johnny Hockey" and trademarked his nickname. He poured in points in Calgary and had his best season 2021-2022 when he made 115 points, 40 goals, and 75 assists.
Gaudreau surprised the hockey world by moving to the bottom team Columbus, which he has represented for the last two seasons. The reason for the move was that he wanted to get closer to his family in New Jersey.
Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew died when they were hit by a car during a bike ride in New Jersey.
+ Salvatore Schillaci, Italy, soccer, 1964-2024.
Schillaci's death is being widely mourned in Italy.
"Ciao Totò", wrote Juventus on the club's X-account and published a picture of the striker who scored 26 goals in 90 matches for the club between 1989-1992.
Sicilian Schillaci, born in Palermo, where he also died, started his career in Messina before being recruited to Juventus. There, he had his best years and biggest successes as a player.
In the summer of 1990, he took World Championship bronze with the national team, won the top scorer title with six goals, and was chosen as the tournament's best player and received the Golden Boot.
He died in the aftermath of colon cancer.
+ Rebecca Cheptegei, Uganda, marathon, 1991-2024.
Last fall, Ugandan Rebecca Cheptegei – a marathon runner during the Paris Olympic Games this summer – was burned to death in Kenya. The perpetrator was her boyfriend, who later died of the burns he sustained during the act.
Cheptegei was attacked by her boyfriend in her home in Trans Nzoia in Kenya, near the border with Uganda. According to local media, her daughters witnessed the attack.
According to Cheptegei's family, the marathon runner and her boyfriend had been in conflict over the ownership of the property Cheptegei lived on.
