Eriksson will return to Italy after his reign in England ends

SVEN-GORAN ERIKSSON has revealed that his long-term aim is to return to manage in Italy after his reign as England coach comes to an end.

Eriksson insists that his sole focus right now is plotting England’s course to the Euro 2004 finals, especially as his side have taken four points from their opening two qualifiers and face a tough task to overhaul Turkey.

His five-year contract with the Football Association actually takes him up to the end of the 2006 World Cup, with an option for a further two years beyond that.

However, Eriksson, 54, admits that he is missing the “stress and pressure” of club management and will not be able to resist the lure of a return to that way of life forever.

Eriksson told Italian sports newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport: “I will certainly return to Italy but I do not know when.

“Now I am only thinking of taking England to the European Championships in Portugal, an aim that requires maximum concentration.”