I JUMPED AT ELEPHANTS OFFER – ERIKSSON

Sven-Goran Eriksson
Sven-Goran Eriksson did not hesitate before agreeing to coach Cote d'Ivoire at the World Cup finals, the former England boss said on Sunday.

Eriksson said he was watching one of the team's matches in London when he was first contacted by Ivorien football officials.

'The president of the Cote d'Ivoire Football Federation was there and asked me if I had a job. I said no,' Eriksson told Swedish public television SVT.

'Some days later he rang and said, 'Coach us during the World Cup then?' I said yes. I didn't need any time to consider it.'

Eriksson, 62, guided England to the quarterfinals of the 2002 and 2006 World Cups.

Before that he spent a turbulent 10 months in charge of Mexico.

Cote d'Ivoire, who boast Chelsea striker Didier Drogba amongst their stars, are in Group G at the June 11-July 11 World Cup finals in South Africa along with Brazil, Portugal and North Korea.