Eriksson in Mexico link

Mexican FA play down deal as Thaksin backs Sven

By Patricio Figueroa   Last updated: 17th May 2008

Sven-Goran Eriksson Manchester City training in Thailand

Eriksson: Future unclear

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Reports in South America suggest Sven Goran Eriksson has agreed to become the next coach of Mexico.

The CNN news channel has reported that Manchester City manager Eriksson has agreed a contract with the Mexican FA, although there has been no official announcement.

Guillermo Cantú, the director of the Mexican national team said: "In the last meeting that the board members had it was said that the name of the new coach was going to be handled carefully and that we are working for getting the best option as soon as possible.

"It has also been said who was going to be on the bench in the match against Belize and that hasn't changed, Jesus Ramirez will be the coach in that match.

Source unknown

"In addition, what has been said on television hasn't been said in any other international network, most of all from England and Portugal so for the moment we don't know where this came from."

Reports in the Mexican media suggest Cantú was recently in England to discuss the position with Eriksson, who is said to have been offered $9million to qualify for the World Cup in 2010.

Meanwhile, there are signs that Eriksson's frosty relationship with City owner Thaksin Shinawatra may be thawing.

The Swede's future is on hold while Thaksin carries out his well-publicised review of the club, but for the first time the former Thai prime minister has stated that Eriksson has done a good job in his first season.

"I acknowledge that Eriksson did well in his first year with the club," Thaksin told The Nation.

"He managed to haul the team from 14th place last year to ninth this season.

"We had been as high as fourth for a while but we then slipped down because some of the first-choice players suffered injuries."