Sven Goran Eriksson to Manage at World Cup

There will be at least two Swedes at the World Cup. A month to the day after Nigeria appointed Lars Lagerback to see them through the World Cup finals, fellow African side Ivory Coast have visited the same Scandinavian well.

Former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson was unveiled as their new coach just for the finals over the weekend but he will not meet his side until 22 May, less than three weeks before the start of the World Cup.

Eriksson managed England at the previous two finals, reaching the quarter-finals in 2002 and 2006, before eliminations to Brazil and Portugal.

Ivory Coast are thought by many to be the strongest African side and the likeliest to mount a genuine challenge at the first ever World Cup finals on the African continent. Their star players include Chelsea’s Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou, and Yaya Toure of Barcelona.

A statement from the Fédération Ivoirienne de Football (FIF) said: “He’s an experienced coach who has proved himself.

“His objective is to ensure an honourable participation at the upcoming World Cup.”

Eriksson’s last job was in charge of Notts County in England’s League 2.

Read the Full FIF Statement here (en francais)

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