Sven-Goran Eriksson quits Leicester
October 25th, 2011 - 3:20 pm ICT by IANSLondon, Oct 25 (IANS) Manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has left Leicester following the club’s mediocre start to the season.
Much was expected of the Foxes after an outlay of more than 10 million pounds on transfer fees alone this summer, but they have struggled for consistency, Xinhua reported quoting English website sportinglife.com.
Although they are only five points adrift of the automatic promotion places in the npower championship, a 0-3 defeat at home to lowly Millwall Saturday left Leicester in 13th place.
That was the final straw for the club’s Thailand-based owners Asia Football Investments, who held a meeting on Monday afternoon to discuss ending the Swede’s one-year stay at the King Power Stadium.
Eriksson’s departure was confirmed in a statement on Leicester’s official website on Monday evening.
“Leicester City Football Club has confirmed that, by mutual agreement, Sven-Goran Eriksson has ceased to be the first team manager, with immediate effect,” it read.
“First team coach Dereck Fazackerley has also left the club.
“The club and its board of directors would like to thank Sven and Derek for the contribution they have made to Leicester City during their 13 months at King Power Stadium.”
Leicester were in the relegation places when Eriksson, having just finished a stint with the Ivory Coast national team, replaced Paulo Sousa as manager in October 2010.
He guided them to a respectable 10th place last season and among his summer acquisitions was defender Matt Mills, who was signed from Reading for a fee that could rise to 5.5 million pounds.
The Foxes were heavily tipped for promotion this season, but a record of just five wins from 13 league games led to Eriksson’s ouster.
Leicester have now turned their attention to find a successor for the Swede.
“Academy director Jon Rudkin and coach Mike Stowell will jointly assume the role of acting manager of the first team, with assistance from development coach Steve Beaglehole,” the statement added.
Martin O’Neill, who managed Leicester for five years and led them to the Premier League as well as two League Cup triumphs, has emerged as the early favourite to succeed Eriksson.
Mark Hughes and Alan Shearer have also been touted as potential replacements.
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- Sven-Goran Eriksson out of Sweden coach race - Oct 20, 2009
- 'It's every manager's dream to manage Liverpool': Eriksson - Jun 05, 2010
- Former England boss Eriksson in takeover bid for Notts County - Dec 10, 2009
- UK Premier League title race not over: Ancelotti - Apr 25, 2011
- Sven's 'right time' arrival to help Ivory Coast 'win big' in WC: Drogba - Mar 31, 2010
- Erikkson surprised at Walcott's omission - Jun 04, 2010
- Ivory Coast ready to show up in South Africa (Group G team profile) - Jun 01, 2010
- Sven rules himself out for Sweden coach role - Oct 21, 2009
- Eriksson vows to take revenge on Portugal over 2006 World Cup, 2004 Euro exit - Jun 05, 2010
- Eriksson is Notts County's new football director - Jul 23, 2009
- Hughes set to be axed, as Manchester City's Arab owners lose patience - Dec 19, 2009
- Villas-Boas appointed Tottenham manager - Jul 03, 2012
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Tags: academy director, automatic promotion, city football club, coach mike, coach steve, development coach, director jon, final straw, foxes, goran eriksson, ivory coast, league games, leicester city football, leicester city football club, mike stowell, millwall, paulo sousa, sportinglife, team coach, xinhua