Eriksson’s highs and lows as England coach

HIGH – 2000: October – Agrees five-year contract to become first foreign manager of the English national team from summer of 2001.

HIGH 2001: September England thrash Germany 5-1 in World Cup qualifier in Munich, en route to reaching the 2002 finals.

LOW 2002: April - World Cup preparations disrupted by revelations of affair with Ulrika Jonsson.

HIGH 2002: June England beat Argentina 1-0 in World Cup in Sapporo.

LOW 2002: June England knocked out of World Cup quarter-finals by Brazil.

LOW 2003: February Roundly criticised after making numerous substitutions and losing 3-1 in friendly to Australia at Upton Park.

HIGH 2003: April England beat Turkey 2-0 in Euro 2004 qualifier in Sunderland.

LOW 2003: July Pictured heading to meeting with new Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.

HIGH 2003: October England draw 0-0 in Turkey to reach Euro 2004 finals in Portugal.

LOW 2004: March Pictured in a national newspaper attending a meeting with Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon.

HIGH 2004: March Agrees a two-year contract extension with England until 2008.

LOW 2004: June England knocked out of Euro 2004 quarter-finals on penalties by hosts Portugal in Lisbon.

LOW 2004: July Exposed in a Sunday newspaper after an affair with female secretary Faria Alam at the Football Association.

LOW 2004: July FA announce inquiry into Alam allegations.

HIGH 2004: August FA reveal Eriksson has "no case to answer" in Alam scandal.

LOW 2005: August Makes wholesale changes in the second half of a friendly against Denmark in Copenhagen. Hosts take full advantage to score four times, Wayne Rooney scoring a 90th-minute consolation in a 4-1 defeat.

LOW 2005: September David Healy's 74th-minute goal gives Northern Ireland a shock 1-0 win in the World Cup qualifier in Belfast, as gamble on a 4-3-3 system backfires.

HIGH 2005: October Victories over Austria and Poland in their final two qualification matches secure England's participation in the 2006 World Cup.

HIGH 2005: November Two goals in the last three minutes from Michael Owen snatched a 3-2 victory over Argentina in a friendly in Geneva.

LOW 2006: January Exposed by the News of the World's 'fake sheikh', Eriksson is caught on camera admitting he could leave England after the World Cup, criticising Michael Owen, Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney and making claims of transfer corruption among Premier League clubs.

LOW 2006: January Announces he is to sue the News of the World for "breach of confidentiality."

LOW 2006: January FA announce he is to appear before their Compliance Unit.

LOW 2006: January 23 Announces he is to stand down as England coach after 2006 World Cup.