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Rediff.com  » Sports » Eriksson unhappy as contract made public

Eriksson unhappy as contract made public

By Rex Gowar
November 28, 2003 22:06 IST
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England coach Sven Goran Eriksson is unhappy that a Football Association (FA) offer to extend his contract for two years to 2008 has been made public.

His agent Athole Still was quoted in British newspapers on Friday as saying: "His reaction was one of disappointment. Not disappointment at the offer, but disappointment at the fact it had been made public. He told me on Monday that the offer had been made verbally."

Reports said the offer was worth 3.5 million pounds ($6 million) per annum for the four years up to the European Championship of 2008.

FA chief executive Mark Palios said the offer showed the their faith in Eriksson, but media pundits have interpreted the move as an attempt to pin down the level of the Swede's loyalty to the England job.

Eriksson, who has been linked with several top club jobs in Europe, has refused to commit himself to beyond leading England in the Euro 2004 finals in Portugal.

Still told BBC Sport on Friday: "Sven is flattered by the offer. Anybody would be flattered if their employer came and offered them a contract extension to show a reaction to the success they have had.

"What I have never said is that Sven is angry or furious that this has been made public... There has clearly been an unauthorised leak.

"Obviously the contract will now be discussed at every Sven news conference and I think that was the main reason for the initial disappointment."

Eriksson, 55, took charge of England in October 2000 following the resignation of Kevin Keegan.

The Swede steered the squad to the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan where England lost 2-1 to Brazil in the quarter-finals. They were unbeaten in their eight Euro 2004 qualifiers.

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Rex Gowar
Source: REUTERS
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