a_shearer09
20-10-2000, 03:16:AM
Lazio coach Eriksson is in the frame
By Martin Lipton
EXCLUSIVE: Lazio coach Sven Goran Eriksson is the man the FA want to be the next England coach.
Lancaster Gate chief executive Adam Crozier believes Eriksson, 52, is the man who can drag English football back to the pinnacle of the world game.
And the FA knows Eriksson would take the job, although the problem may be to convince him to move immediately.
After shattering the hopes of Howard Wilkinson and Terry Venables, bluntly telling both they will not be considered, Crozier is now ready to ignore the clamour for an English coach and prove his commitment to going for the best candidate for the job.
Crozier was alerted to Eriksson's qualities by fellow head-hunters Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein and Chelsea chairman Ken Bates - the latter a man whose counsel Crozier takes great heed of - who have witnessed the Swede's abilities at first hand in the Champions League over the past two seasons.
Eriksson, who has won titles in Sweden and Portugal as well as leading Lazio to only the second Serie A crown in their history last season, represents the Identikit profile of the candidate Crozier has sought.
Betting patterns in the past few days have seen Eriksson's odds slashed dramatically.
On Thursday, after a four-hour meeting of Crozier's seven-man selection team which identified the Swede was first choice, the FA issued a statement outlining those attributes which read: 'These criteria focused on evidence of their sustained football success as a coach/manager, their international experience, their standing among players, clubs and supporters, and their tactical astuteness.
'Other criteria included integrity, handling of outside pressures, capacity to focus solely on the job, decision making and communication skills, long-term commitment, ability to inspire a team and operate within it and their consistency of purpose.'
While Venables' talents as a coach are respected by the Lancaster Gate team - which included Wilkinson, Dein and the former Spurs and Barcelona coach's FA nemesis Noel White - there could not have been a clearer signal that the 'baggage' he carries with him is too heavy to be ignored.
With the FA accepting that Arsene Wenger did not want to leave Arsenal, they have gone for the next best thing - a Wenger clone. Eriksson is not only a credible coach - his track record cannot be ignored - he is also extremely intelligent and talented, a guru figure with an outstanding command of English.
While the FA is considering approaching either Sir Alex Ferguson or Newcastle's Bobby Robson to take over from the unwanted Wilkinson as caretaker coach for next month's friendly in Italy, it is possible that Eriksson could sever his links with Lazio in the near future.
Lazio president Sergio Cragnotti would be reluctant to see Eriksson leave while Lazio are still in the Champions League - they are just one victory from guaranteeing their passage to the second group phase - but he could be shifted if the FA is prepared to make a serious approach to land their man now.
If he has to, Crozier is prepared to wait until next summer for Eriksson to be available, which would mean a caretaker appointed until the end of this season.
But he is aware that England's next competitive matches are not until the World Cup qualifiers with Finland and Albania in March.
By then, Lazio could be out of the Champions League or not in contention to retain their Serie A title, at which time Cragnotti, aware that Eriksson will not be signing a new contract, may be willing to let him go.
If that should fail the FA may revert to a fall-back position of an English coach by going for Roy Hodgson, now with FC Copenhagen in Denmark, who has vast experience on the continent.
By Martin Lipton
EXCLUSIVE: Lazio coach Sven Goran Eriksson is the man the FA want to be the next England coach.
Lancaster Gate chief executive Adam Crozier believes Eriksson, 52, is the man who can drag English football back to the pinnacle of the world game.
And the FA knows Eriksson would take the job, although the problem may be to convince him to move immediately.
After shattering the hopes of Howard Wilkinson and Terry Venables, bluntly telling both they will not be considered, Crozier is now ready to ignore the clamour for an English coach and prove his commitment to going for the best candidate for the job.
Crozier was alerted to Eriksson's qualities by fellow head-hunters Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein and Chelsea chairman Ken Bates - the latter a man whose counsel Crozier takes great heed of - who have witnessed the Swede's abilities at first hand in the Champions League over the past two seasons.
Eriksson, who has won titles in Sweden and Portugal as well as leading Lazio to only the second Serie A crown in their history last season, represents the Identikit profile of the candidate Crozier has sought.
Betting patterns in the past few days have seen Eriksson's odds slashed dramatically.
On Thursday, after a four-hour meeting of Crozier's seven-man selection team which identified the Swede was first choice, the FA issued a statement outlining those attributes which read: 'These criteria focused on evidence of their sustained football success as a coach/manager, their international experience, their standing among players, clubs and supporters, and their tactical astuteness.
'Other criteria included integrity, handling of outside pressures, capacity to focus solely on the job, decision making and communication skills, long-term commitment, ability to inspire a team and operate within it and their consistency of purpose.'
While Venables' talents as a coach are respected by the Lancaster Gate team - which included Wilkinson, Dein and the former Spurs and Barcelona coach's FA nemesis Noel White - there could not have been a clearer signal that the 'baggage' he carries with him is too heavy to be ignored.
With the FA accepting that Arsene Wenger did not want to leave Arsenal, they have gone for the next best thing - a Wenger clone. Eriksson is not only a credible coach - his track record cannot be ignored - he is also extremely intelligent and talented, a guru figure with an outstanding command of English.
While the FA is considering approaching either Sir Alex Ferguson or Newcastle's Bobby Robson to take over from the unwanted Wilkinson as caretaker coach for next month's friendly in Italy, it is possible that Eriksson could sever his links with Lazio in the near future.
Lazio president Sergio Cragnotti would be reluctant to see Eriksson leave while Lazio are still in the Champions League - they are just one victory from guaranteeing their passage to the second group phase - but he could be shifted if the FA is prepared to make a serious approach to land their man now.
If he has to, Crozier is prepared to wait until next summer for Eriksson to be available, which would mean a caretaker appointed until the end of this season.
But he is aware that England's next competitive matches are not until the World Cup qualifiers with Finland and Albania in March.
By then, Lazio could be out of the Champions League or not in contention to retain their Serie A title, at which time Cragnotti, aware that Eriksson will not be signing a new contract, may be willing to let him go.
If that should fail the FA may revert to a fall-back position of an English coach by going for Roy Hodgson, now with FC Copenhagen in Denmark, who has vast experience on the continent.