SVEN-GÖRAN ERIKSSON’S future as England head coach could be resolved before the World Cup finals with an announcement that he will leave at the end of the tournament. There is a growing belief within the Football Association that it might be best for the organisation, and for the team’s chances, if his position is clarified before the squad depart for Germany.
That view has taken a stronger hold since the “fake sheikh” affair that engulfed Eriksson over the weekend, but it would require the Swede to come to a compromise deal on the remaining two years of his contract. Even if Brian Barwick, the FA chief executive, and senior figures put pressure on Eriksson, he could choose to protect his financial position by waiting until the campaign is concluded — and until he has lined up another job.
One source confirmed that an “adult conversation” could be expected between Barwick and Eriksson in the coming weeks, while another suggested that agreeing his departure date as soon as possible might spare the FA and its head coach from any further embarrassment should he be caught talking to prospective clubs.
Given Eriksson’s belief that he is free to negotiate with suitors while under contract, there is a strong possibility that he could be involved in discussions with Real Madrid and Inter Milan, among others, between now and May. Agreeing his departure date would remove the need for subterfuge and prevent red faces when the newspapers drop.
It would also enable the FA to press ahead with considering a successor. Barwick is strongly rumoured to favour a British appointment, which would put Martin O’Neill, Stuart Pearce, Sam Allardyce and Steve McClaren ahead of Guus Hiddink, although there is no clear favourite.
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Not even the Swede’s remaining supporters expect him to stay beyond July, but, given his annual salary of about £4.5 million, the financial discussions involve high stakes. Despite reports that he had jeopardised a payoff with his indiscreet remarks to the News of the World, his lawyers are adamant that he has not breached any part of his contract.
More relevant to those talks is the likelihood of Eriksson walking straight into employment once he leaves the England post, because the FA would hope to use that to mitigate against a substantial compensation package. Eriksson may not be short of offers. His standing in England may have been dented by yet another scandal, but he remains a highly respected figure across most of the Continent.
One thing he is not considering is resignation. “The only chance I will do that is for football reasons — not because of the criticism,” he told the League Managers Association website before the latest furore. “It is important for any national team coach to have the support of his chairman, association and players and if that breaks down, it is over. But that is not the case.”
Eriksson confirmed in that interview that he would “like to go back to club football before I collect my pension” and that he had “no particular country in mind”. Despite previous offers from Chelsea and Manchester United, Italy or Spain are more likely destinations in August.
However, Tord Grip, his assistant, admitted that even his inscrutable boss had been rocked in the past few days. “He has been through a lot of things, but this was something very special because it was a real set-up,” Grip said. “It was a shock for him, this one. It’s not nice because then you can’t trust anybody.”