Story Highlights• Sven-Goran Eriksson agrees in principle to become Manchester City manager• BBC Sport says an official announcement is unlikely before the weekend • Swede Ronald Andersson says Eriksson has asked him to be his assistant Adjust font size:
    MANCHESTER, England -- Former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has agreed in principle to take over as manager of Manchester City on a three-year contract, Sky Sports News reported on Tuesday. BBC Sport said that it was understood that there were some details still be resolved, and there was unlikely to be an official announcement before the weekend. Manchester City would not comment on the report but a source denied that the Swede had signed a contract with the club, who are in the throes of a takeover by former Thai Premier Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaksin said last week he expected to reveal more of his plans, including the club's next manager, once he had built up a 75 percent stake. He hoped to reach that target this week. Eriksson, 59, has been out of football since he stepped down from his England job after the 2006 World Cup in Germany and has been out of the club game since leaving Lazio in January 2001. He would replace Stuart Pearce, who was sacked in May. Thaksin has tabled an 81.6 million pounds ($163.1 million) bid and described Eriksson, whom he said he had met recently, as having "a very good reputation and he's very capable". Tuesday's report followed comments by Sweden's assistant coach Roland Andersson, that he had been approached by Eriksson for a possible coaching job at City under his compatriot. "We have been in touch over the last few days and Sven-Goran has said that he is considering an offer to join Manchester City as a manager," Andersson said in a statement on the Swedish FA's Web site. "It is correct that we have discussed a possible job for me in the club...(But) As far as I know, Sven-Goran has not signed a deal with Manchester City and therefore there is no specific offer for me to take a stand on." Although Eriksson failed to deliver a trophy during his tenure with the England team his credentials as a club manager are outstanding. He is the only coach who has won the league and cup double in three different countries; in Sweden with IFK Gothenburg, in Portugal with Benfica and in Italy with Lazio. After a knee injury ended an undistinguished playing career in 1975 he started as a coach with Swedish side Degerfors, taking them from Third Division to First in three years. This led to his appointment at Gothenburg, where he guided the side to cup success in his first campaign and the treble of league, cup and UEFA Cup in 1982. When he was engaged by Benfica they immediately won the league, cup and were runners-up in the UEFA Cup. A second championship followed before he switched to Italy and steered Roma to cup success in 1986. After a blank spell with Fiorentina Eriksson returned to Benfica, who were runners-up in the European Cup and lifted the league title. At Sampdoria he repeated his earlier Italian Cup triumph and then at Lazio won the league, the cup twice, the Italian Super Cup, the European Cup Winners' Cup and the UEFA Super Cup. |
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Eriksson has been out of football since leaving the England post.
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