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Eriksson will quit after World Cup
LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Sven-Goran Eriksson will leave his post as England head coach after the 2006 World Cup, the Football Association announced on Monday. The Swede's contract runs until 2008, but Eriksson held talks with the FA on Monday after a second weekend of embarrassing revelations in a Sunday newspaper. "The FA and Sven felt it was important to clarify his future. This is for the benefit of everyone connected with English football, especially the fans," FA chief executive Brian Barwick said. He added on the FA's website: "There has been so much speculation surrounding this matter in recent weeks and months, it was important to resolve it now. "This is the right outcome and I would like to thank Sven and his advisors for their tremendous co-operation. "As I have said before, our main objective is giving Sven and the England team the best chance of achieving success at the World Cup. "Sven is definitely the man to lead us in Germany." Eriksson, who took over as England coach in 2000, qualified for the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, taking the team to the quarter-finals where they lost to Brazil. The former Lazio coach also qualified England for the Euro 2004 tournament in Portugal, where they again stumbled in the quarter-finals to the hosts. However, his reign has been liberally scattered with front page headlines about his private life. "I am happy that we have reached this agreement and can now continue our preparations for the World Cup," Eriksson said on the FA website. "I know that I have the full support of the players and The FA and it is important to stress to everyone just how committed I am to achieving success this summer. "I care passionately about this job and I want everyone to know that. I have always enjoyed the incredible support of the fans and I know how important they will be to us in Germany. "This summer is the culmination of everything we have been working towards over the last five years. Let's go and win the World Cup." Manchester City's Stuart Pearce, Bolton's Sam Allardyce, Middlesbrough's Steve McClaren and Charlton's Alan Curbishley -- all English -- have been touted as a possible replacement for Eriksson. Brazilian Luiz Felipe Scolari, whose contract with Portugal ends after the finals in Germany, said on Sunday he was interested in replacing Eriksson -- one of many foreign coaches in the queue. The draw for the next European Championship qualifying takes place on Friday and the FA will want to move quickly to put a successor in place. 
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