Eriksson

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters):

FORMER ENGLAND coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has been named as Manchester City manager, the Premier League club said yesterday.

Eriksson's appointment was made after former Thai Premier Thaksin Shinawatra gained enough shares to complete his takeover bid. The 59-year-old Swede told the club's website mcfc.co.uk: "This is an exciting challenge and I have already started making preparations for the new season. I want to deliver a team that our fantastic fans can be proud of."

City chief executive Alistair Mackintosh said of the appointment: "I'm delighted that Sven-Goran Eriksson has agreed tojoin the club as we move into an exciting new era.

"Sven's vast experience of managing top clubs to success around Europe is one of the qualities that attracted us to him. He also knows the English Premier League inside out during his time as national team manager."

Eriksson, has been out of football since he left the England job after the 2006 World Cup in Germany and has been out of club management since leaving Lazio in January 2001.

He replaces former England defender Stuart Pearce, who was sacked by City after they finished 14th in the 20-strong Premier League in May. Eriksson is expected to be given transfer funds estimated at 20 to 50 million pounds to improve a squad which flirted with relegation last season.

Two of their leading players, midfielder Joey Barton and French defender Sylvain Distin, have already left the club.

Eriksson, who failed to get England beyond the last eight of two World Cups and Euro 2004, can point to a very successful club management career in Europe, notably in Italy and Portugal.