Man with the Midas touch

Eriksson is renowned for his tactical acumen

BBC Sport Online profiles Sven Goran Eriksson - the first ever foreigner to take charge of the England football team.

Swede Sven Goran Eriksson has won a reputation as one of the most progressive coaches in world football.

The boss of Italian Serie A side Lazio, he is highly regarded for his tactical acumen and attention to detail.

He has long been linked with posts in Britain after making his name as coach of IFK Gothenburg, Benfica and Sampdoria before moving to Rome.

He signed a contract to take over at Blackburn in 1997 before reneging; has expressed an interest in the Manchester United job when Sir Alex Ferguson retires; and was also linked with the Celtic manager's job.

A Serie A title with Lazio changed his mind, adding to a list of honours including the Super Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup (with Lazio), Uefa Cup (IFK Gothenburg), three Portuguese titles (Benfica) and the Swedish title (Gothenburg).

  Sven Goran Eriksson

1948 Born Torsby, Sweden, Feb 5

1975 Ends playing career with Degerfors

1981 Wins Swedish title with IFK Gothenburg

1983 Wins Portuguese league and cup double at Benfica

1984 Second Portuguese title

1986 Takes Roma to Italian Cup victory

1991 Third championship in Portugal, back at Benfica

1994 At Sampdoria, wins Italian Cup

1998 Italian Cup victory with Lazio

1999 Wins European Cup Winners Cup and Uefa Super Cup

2000 Clinches Serie A title and Italian Cup for Lazio

31 October 2000 Named by FA as England boss

With that record of success and his tactical nous, the multi-lingual Swede was regarded by many as an ideal candidate to take England, and the English game, forward.

Others, though, will find it hard to look past the fact he would be the country's first foreign manager.

Eriksson boasts an excellent track record, winning five championships in three different countries, his native Sweden and in Portugal, before giving Lazio only their second Serie A title in Italy last season.

Before the shortlist was drawn up for the England job, he was not well known in Britain, but elsewhere was regarded as one of the most knowledgeable coaches in world football.

Pressure

He agreed to take over at Ewood Park in 1997, publicly announced he was "honoured" to accept Jack Walker's offer of the Rovers job, then back-tracked on the deal.

Eriksson may have the ability to handle the massive pressure which goes with the England post, and is remarkably dignified.

Quietly-spoken and not given to showing too much of the strain that comes with the territory, he is single-minded in the extreme.

One ex-player claims he never raised his voice but exercised remarkable control, and he should have no language problems.

At the age of 52, he may well regard England as his last big challenge.