Klas Ingesson, a former Sweden international midfielder who helped his nation reach the semifinals of the 1994 World Cup, has died. He was 46.
Ingesson, the coach at Allesvenskan club Elfsborg, died on Wednesday. He was diagnosed with incurable cancer in 2009.
"IF Elfsborg has a very sad announcement to make. Klas Ingesson has passed away this morning," the club said in a statement posted on their website.
"Our thoughts are foremost with his wife and children, who were with him to the end at home in Odeshog."
Ingesson played 57 times for Sweden, taking part in two World Cups and reached the last four at the 1994 tournament in the United States. He also played at the 1992 European Championship.
Ingesson also played for Sheffield Wednesday, PSV Eindhoven, Marseille and Bari.
"A sad day for Swedish football when one of our big stars and World Cup heroes has left us," a statement from Swedish Football Association (SvFF) chairman Karl-Erik Nilsson read. "He was a great fighter on and off the field, but in the end this fight was too difficult even for 'Klabbe.'
"Our thoughts are with his loved ones, and to his comrades in Elfsborg and the 1994 World Cup team."
The SvFF also announced in a Facebook post that both the senior and under-23 women's teams would wear black armbands in their matches later on Wednesday in tribute to Ingesson.
Post by Svenska Fotbollslandslagen.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report
