Eriksson to quit as England manager after World Cup
(AP)
Updated: 2006-01-24 10:43

Eriksson said he had the full support of the players, and the FA was keen to stress how committed he was to a successful World Cup in Germany.

"I care passionately about this job and I want everyone to know that," Eriksson said.

England defender Wayne Bridge didn't think the decision would affect England's chance of winning the World Cup on the 40th anniversary of its only victory.

"The players are just going to be loving the fact it's a big tournament and wanting to do so well," Bridge said. "No one's going to be looking past that."

In the News of the World nine days ago, Eriksson said midfielder David Beckham was frustrated at Real Madrid and was eager to return to English soccer. He described defender Rio Ferdinand as "lazy"; said Wayne Rooney had a temper and came from a poor family; that Michael Owen was rich, but unhappy at Newcastle, and Shaun Wright-Phillips' $37 million transfer to Chelsea was overpriced. Eriksson also suggested he would be interested in becoming manager at Aston Villa.

In Sunday's edition, he said some English Premier League managers were corrupt.

Eriksson went to Dubai at the invitation of an apparently legitimate company to discuss the possibility of a future sports development consultancy. He began legal action on Friday for breach of confidence.

Eriksson's other controversies include affairs with television presenter Ulrika Jonsson and FA secretary Faria Alam -- while in a long-term relationship with Nancy Dell'Olio -- and three occasions when he had talks about leaving England for a club.

Speculation on a successor for one of soccer's most lucrative jobs began immediately.

Bolton's Sam Allardyce, Middlesbrough's Steve McClaren, Charlton's Alan Curbishley and Manchester City's Stuart Pearce -- all English -- were mentioned. Also named were former Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld, a German, Ireland's former Celtic manager Martin O'Neill, and former Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari expressed interest after his contract with Portugal ends following the World Cup.