Joe Hart has paid an emotional tribute to his former manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, describing the Swede as the first "sprinkling of stardust" that he worked with in his career. Eriksson passed away on Monday at the age of 76 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, and almost immediately tributes and well wishes came in from across the world of football for a man who enjoyed a 41-year-long career in football management. Among his many achievements, Eriksson memorably led Swedish side Malmo to UEFA Cup glory in 1982, won three league titles with Benfica in Portugal and guided Lazio to their second and most recent Scudetto in Serie A back in 2000.
The late great was also known for his five-year spell as manager of the England national team between 2001 and 2006, coaching the side in two World Cups and one European Championship. But it was after he left the Three Lions that the hugely popular character linked up with former stopper Hart - who hung up his gloves at the end of last season after two successful seasons at Celtic - when he took up the reins at Manchester City in the summer of 2007. The Swede only lasted one season in Manchester, but gave the then 20-year-old Hart his breakthrough at first team level, with the Englishman going onto make 32 appearances in all competitions in the 2007/08 campaign.
Apart from a productive year on loan at Birmingham in the 2009/10 season, Hart then went onto establish himself as the club's number one keeper, winning two Premier League titles.