Het grote Sven-Goran Eriksson topic: Wederom in de problemen

quote:

Tabloid gave Sven 'biggest shock'
By Simon Austin

Sven-Goran Eriksson's right-hand man has said the weekend's tabloid revelations gave the England coach the biggest shock of his career. Tord Grip told BBC Sport: "He has been through a lot of things but this was something very special, because it was a real set-up. "But I know that Sven is OK and he's fully committed to the job."

Eriksson was exposed by the News of the World on Sunday after revealing information to an undercover reporter. He was quoted suggesting he would be prepared to become manager of Aston Villa as part of a takeover. He also divulged thoughts of David Beckham and Michael Owen, and gave away opinions about Rio Ferdinand and Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Grip says the News of the World's revelations came as a particularly big surprise even though he has been exposed by newspapers in the past. "It was a shock for him, this one. It's not nice, because then you can't trust anybody and you don't trust what they are writing either," Grip said. "You never know if it is true or not. It's strange that they do things like that. They had planned it for several months. "He was a little bit shocked when he realised it was a set-up but now it's OK."

Grip, who has known Eriksson for more than 30 years and was also his assistant at Lazio, insisted the story would not damage the England coach's relationship with his players, or even the media. "he has spoken to them (the players) and he's rather relaxed about the media," Grip said. "It's no problem at the moment."

Eriksson has been no stranger to controversy since he became England manager in 2001. Details of affairs with television presenter Ulrika Jonsson and Football Association secretary Faria Alam were made public by the newspapers. And he has been caught out in negotiations with prospective employers on three occasions - twice with Chelsea and also with Manchester United.

quote:

Sven-Göran Eriksson in de val

Van onze correspondent

LONDEN, maandag
De Britse bondscoach Sven-Göran Eriksson is door het schandaalblad News of the World in de val gelokt. De krant wist Eriksson via een als sjeik vermomde reporter naar Doebai te lokken. Hij zou daar praten over het oprichten van een voetbalschool ter plekke. De Zweed en twee van zijn adviseurs werden daar in een zeven (!) sterrenhotel in de watten gelegd. Daarna werd gevraagd of Eriksson mogelijk eerder onder zijn tot 2008 doorlopende contract uitwilde. De coach had daar voor de som van 7,5 miljoen euro wel oren naar. Ook adviseerde hij de ’sjeik’ Aston Villa op te kopen dat hij dan wel zou managen. Verder was het voor de trainer geen probleem om zijn captain David Beckham vanuit Real Madrid naar Villa te halen. „David is ongelukkig in Madrid en we hebben een speciale relatie.”

Eriksson klapte ook nog uit de school over zijn andere ster, Michael Owen, die alleen maar „voor het geld” bij Newcastle zou voetballen. Toen zijn advocaat gevraagd werd of een eerder vertrek bij de Engelse voetbalbond geen contractbreuk zou zijn, antwoordde deze: „Er zijn manieren om daar onderuit te komen.”
Overigens heeft de coach altijd benadrukt dat er pas na het WK met hem te praten zou zijn. „Als ik de Wereldbeker win dan vertrek ik, goodbye.” Desondanks spreekt the News of the World in de reportage van „Sven’s dirty deals”.