England set for boss announcement

Eriksson: Lazio's most successful ever coach

The Football Association could appoint Sven Goran Eriksson as the new England coach as early as Tuesday afternoon at a press conference.

His Italian club side Lazio have announced that he will be leaving them next summer.

The FA have said that a final deal has not yet been reached with the Serie A club's Swedish boss.

But Lazio president Sergio Cragnotti said Eriksson will be leaving Rome once his contract expires on 1 July 2001.

"Eriksson has made a choice about his life," Cragnotti said. "I understand him. He was fine at Rome. He has won here, he has become Lazio's most successful ever coach, but he needed a new challenge and other stimulation.

"I hope he will leave Lazio by giving us the Champions League title."

Crozier meeting

On Monday, the Italian news agency Ansa had reported that Eriksson had signed a contract 'of several years', worth around £1.8 m, with the FA.

FA chief executive Adam Crozier met Eriksson at the Formello training complex after Lazio's new signing Dino Baggio was presented to the press on Monday.

Eriksson began to take a training session and was then called over by club vice-president Dino Zoff and director general Massimo Cragnotti, son of Lazio president Sergio.

He was then led to a room for a meeting with Crozier and Sergio Cragnotti.

Crozier: Met Cragnotti in Rome

FA executive director David Davies said: "Eriksson has a distinguished record as a club coach in Europe and took Lazio to the Serie A title last season.

"The FA have discussed the possibility of him taking charge of the England team both for key games in the short-term, and in a full-time capacity in the long term. Those talks will resume in the near future."

He added: "We are continuing to build a team of young English coaches, all with real potential, to work with the new senior England coach.

Best coaches

"Our aim is to get the best available team of coaches to give the England players the greatest chance of success in international competition. That's what the supporters want and what the country wants.

FA chairman Geoff Thompson said he had no qualms about the possibility of a foreign coach taking charge.

"There are not many English people available at the present time so consequently we have to spread the net a little bit," he said.

He insisted a deal had not been finalised. "It is not signed and sealed yet and I'm sure I will be the first to know when it is," he said.

Zaccheroni: Linked with Lazio job

Meanwhile, speculation has already started in Italy about who will take over from Eriksson at Lazio.

The favourites are AC Milan boss Alberto Zaccheroni, former Juventus and Inter Milan coach Marcello Lippi and Arsenal's Arsene Wenger.

Lazio's assistant coach and former player Roberto Mancini has also been linked with the top job at the Rome club.