LONDON: Former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has been named as Manchester City manager, the Premier League club said yesterday.
Eriksson’s appointment was made after former Thai Premier Thaksin Shinawatra gained enough shares to complete his takeover bid.
The 59-year-old Swede told the club’s website mcfc.co.uk: “This is an exciting challenge and I have already started making preparations for the new season. I want to deliver a team that our fantastic fans can be proud of.”
City chief executive Alistair Mackintosh said of the appointment: “I’m delighted that Sven-Goran Eriksson has agreed to join the club as we move into an exciting new era.
“Sven’s vast experience of managing top clubs to success around Europe is one of the qualities that attracted us to him.
“He also knows the English Premier League inside out during his time as national team manager.”
Eriksson, has been out of football since he left the England job after the 2006 World Cup in Germany and has been out of club management since leaving Lazio in January 2001.
He replaces former England defender Stuart Pearce, who was sacked by City after they finished 14th in the 20-strong Premier League in May.
Eriksson is expected to be given transfer funds estimated at £20mil to £50mil to improve a squad who flirted with relegation last season.
Two of their leading players, midfielder Joey Barton and French defender Sylvain Distin, have already left the club.
Eriksson, who failed to get England beyond the last eight of two World Cups and Euro 2004, can point to a very successful club management career in Europe, notably in Italy and Portugal.
He coached Lazio to an Italian League and Cup double in 2000 as well as taking them to victory in the 1999 European Cup Winners Cup, and he also won the domestic Cup with AS Roma and Sampdoria.
He won the Portuguese league three times during two spells with Benfica, having previously collected a Swedish league title and the 1982 UEFA Cup with IFK Gothenburg. – Reuters
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Brazilians not worried about winning ‘ugly’
PUERTO LA CRUZ: Brazil’s players are not worried about what the media has termed “ugly soccer” as long as they get the results.
Despite reaching the quarter-finals of the Copa America, Brazil’s performances have fallen far short of the stylish game with which they are traditionally associated.
The defending champions qualified in second place from Group B, behind Mexico, and all four of their goals have been scored by striker Robinho.
Coach Dunga has been heavily criticised in Brazil for fielding three defensive midfielders, which many feel inhibits the team’s creativity.
“Football is about the result and getting three points. I prefer the result. The important thing is that we’re winning,” said Anderson, one of three players who have been tried out in the attacking midfield role.
Santos leftback Kleber said it was possible to win playing attractive football but that he had already won titles in a team that did not play very well.
“And I don’t think our football is that ugly,” he added.
Midfielder Diego summed up the team’s thinking.
“We’re not here to play pretty football, we’re here to be champions,” he said
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