| Sven Goran Eriksson has stressed the importance of the services that the League Managers Association offers to its members. When Eriksson’s tenure as Manchester City manager became under threat, the LMA provided him with extensive support and legal advice. Following his recent appointment as Mexico manager, Eriksson took time to share his thoughts with Sue McCann.
Importance of the League Managers Association
“Manchester City, fair or not sacked me and with the help of the LMA the economics of my contract were sorted out quickly & professionally. The legal advice and help I had from the LMA was very important and I am extremely thankful for that. The LMA is a very strong organisation and I recommend every coach and manager to support it because the objective is to make this organisation even stronger. Whenever you sign a new contract or whatever problem you have as a manager I think you should enlist the help of the LMA because it is a very, very professional organisation.”
Managing Mexico
“It’s a big country with 120 million people and all of them are crazy about football. This position gives me the opportunity to qualify for another World Cup, this time in South Africa and the big challenge for me is to take the team to the quarter finals.
For the first time ever Mexico have 15 players playing in Europe; they have never had so many who are playing in La Liga, the Premier League, the Bundesliga and the Dutch league. So that means that I have really good players and the Mexican U’17 team won the World Cup for U17’s a couple of years ago. They have some very talented players which of course is important.
The Mexican job is a big job and it’s a new challenge in a new part of the world for me so I thought ‘well why not?’ I will be based in Mexico City and Tord Grip will be based in Europe to follow the Mexican players at European teams but sometimes I will come to Europe to see them of course.”
Encouraging British managers to experience managing abroad
“It is a rewarding experience if you try to coach or manage in other countries; you learn another language and learn about other people’s methods. I like it and for me managing Mexico is another challenge and I am really looking forward to it. So if a British manager does have the opportunity to go abroad then I say ‘why not?’”
Steve McClaren joining FC Twente
“I think that it is a very good decision for him because I know him very well and I know that like me he doesn’t like being without work. After England I had one year without managing and that was awful. The Dutch league is a good league, it’s not the Premier League but it is still a very good league. Steve has a lot of experience even though he is relatively young and he will do a good job because he is a very good coach and manager.”
Assessment of Euro 2008
“ It was a very positive competition with attacking football and great games. I would say that Spain were the best team by far, played wonderful football and they have a midfield which is absolutely world class; together with Torres and Villa they are a very, very good team. Every time Spain went into a tournament you always thought they had a very good team but they almost never progressed far enough but this time they really did it and they deserved it. I believe that Spain will be one of the favourites to win the World Cup in 2010.”
Impact of Scolari at Chelsea
“You are talking about a top class manager with Scolari. He’s had experience from Brazilian football, experience of European football from managing Portugal and he has signed for a very, very, very good football club and so he will do well, absolutely.”
Barclays Premier League Title Race
“I will watch Premier League games from Mexico and it will be a race between the ‘Big 4’ again but I hope that Manchester City can have a chance of breaking into it.”
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