Former Sweden midfielder Klas Ingesson dies at 46

Swedish footballing legend Klas Ingesson has died aged 46 following a six-year battle with multiple myeloma, a type of bone marrow cancer.

The former midfielder was diagnosed with the disease in early 2009 and initially made a full recovery, only for the disease to later return. 

He tragically passed away this morning in his home in Ödeshög.

Ingesson had a successful playing career featuring stints at clubs such at IFK Göteborg, PSV Eindhoven, Sheffield Wednesday, Bari and Marseille.

He represented his country 57 times scoring 13 goals, and was a key figure in the bronze-winning Swedish World Cup team of 1994.

In september last year he took the reigns as head coach at Swedish top flight club Elfsborg. He had to step down due to a worsened condition two weeks ago.

'I would love to stay on but I can't only think about my self. Me stepping down is the best for everybody,' said Ingesson at the time.

The news of his death today was received with sorrow in Sweden, and at Elfsborg.

'It's an unbelievable tragedy, it feels horrible. He was such a beautiful human being. It's tough having to accept he has been taken away,' said Elfsborg player Andreas Klarström.

Ceremony

The club will hold a ceremony for Ingesson at 11 a.m. (GMT) today.

Thomas Ravelli, goalkeeper in that bronze-winning World Cup team, remembers his former teammate with warmth.

'He was wonderful, an honest man. There was nothing mean about him in the slightest. He didn't take himself too seriously but when he spoke everybody listened. Losing such a young and fantastic human being this early in life is a true tragedy. He had so much left to give, both professionally and outside the pitch. This is sadly often the case, the good ones get taken away from us too early,' said Ravelli.