|
Eriksson to quit as England manager after World Cup
(AP)
Updated: 2006-01-24 10:43 Sven-Goran Eriksson is
getting what he wished for -- out of his England coaching job after the World
Cup.
Just days after a British tabloid published comments by Eriksson that he
would quit in July after soccer's showpiece event, an embarrassed England
Football Association made sure of it on Monday by cutting his contract by two
years.
England's coach
Sven-Goran Eriksson (L) and soccer player Michael Owen watch a training
session at Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre in this August 27, 2001
file photo. Eriksson will leave his post as England head coach after the
2006 World Cup, the FA announced on January 23, 2006. [Reuters
File] |
|
Eriksson's indiscreet remarks to a News of the World reporter posing as an
Arab sheik in Dubai were just the latest brush with the media by the Swede,
whose position has often seemed jeopardized by questions over his personality,
loyalty and personal life. The FA acted to prevent the controversy from further
overshadowing England's World Cup preparations.
"If one could have picked a set of circumstances to lead up to the World Cup
this would not have been high on the list," former England manager Howard
Wilkinson said.
"That will put an end to the speculation, but that will be followed by
speculation on who is going to succeed him."
During a six-hour meeting on Monday, Eriksson and FA chief executive Brian
Barwick agreed to shorten a contract originally set to last to 2008, and reached
a compensation deal reportedly worth $5.3 million -- a third of what he would
have earned from two years' salary.
"The FA and Sven felt it was important to clarify his future," Barwick said.
"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."
Eriksson marked five years in charge of England as its first foreign coach on
Jan. 12. Under Eriksson, England has won 34 matches, drew 15, lost 10, and
reached the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup and 2004 European championship.
|
