TheCable

Sven-Goran Erikson, former England manager, has revealed why he turned down the opportunity to coach the Super Eagles of Nigeria at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

In an interview with Branschen.se, a Swedish website, Erikson said he rejected the offer after he was told by an official of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) that his salary would be paid into two different bank accounts.

According to the Swede, the NFF gave him a condition that his salary would be paid into his account and “another account that was not in my name.”

Erikson was contacted after late Shaibu Amodu was relived of his job as Eagles coach after the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The NFF also contacted Guus Hiddink, Glenn Hoddle, Arigo Sacchi, Giovanni Trapattoni, Eriksson and Louis van Gaal for the job 10 years ago.

“The only time I can remember having undergone any form that resembles an interview was when I was asked about the job of Nigeria’s national team coach in 2010 ahead of the World Cup in South Africa,” Erikson said.

“I went down in the belief that I would meet the chairman of the national team association (NFF) and that it was really only contract formalities that we would go through.

“But when I arrived, several coaches had received the same invitation, including Lars Lagerbäck. I was very surprised but found myself quiet quickly.

“After a while, I was called into the room with a chairman who declared that they wanted me as a coach, but with the proviso that my salary would be divided into two parts: one that I got into my account and another that would be deposited into another account that was not in my name.

“There I refused on the standing. I thought something didn’t go right. I’ve never applied for a job in my entire life.

“All my assignments have come about through the results I have achieved. I have never gone through any traditional job interviews, never sat down and conducted any tests or been analysed.”

Lars Lagerback was eventually appointed Eagles coach at that time.