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Eriksson had agreement to quit job
LONDON, England -- England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson revealed on Tuesday that he had reached agreement to leave his post after the World Cup, even before the tabloid sting that triggered his early exit. "We had a private agreement that I was more or less allowed to leave after the World Cup," the Swede told a news conference on Tuesday, the day after the FA announced he would be leaving his post two years before the end of his contract in 2008. "We have been talking about that now and then for one year." Eriksson is suing the News of the World tabloid after it quoted him telling a journalist posing as a wealthy Arab businessman that he might leave the England job after the World Cup which starts in Germany in June. Sitting alongside FA chief executive Brian Barwick on Tuesday, Eriksson said: "I felt there were too many circuses around my private life and maybe this was one too many." Asked what he thought about the newspaper's behavior, Eriksson replied: "Scandal, that's my feeling about it. "I can't talk about it because of the legal action against the newspaper ... but it could only happen in this country, that's for sure." The FA officially announced on Monday that Eriksson would be leaving the job after this summer's World Cup. "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 quarterfinals where they lost to Brazil. Stumbled againThe former Lazio coach also qualified England for the Euro 2004 tournament in Portugal, where they stumbled again, against the hosts in the quarterfinals. 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." 
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