Sven will be next Real Madrid coach, claims club’s presidential candidate

REAL MADRID presidential candidate Arturo Baldesano claims Sven-Goran Eriksson has agreed to become the club’s new head coach, subject to the result of next month’s elections.

Baldesano is among the contenders to take charge at the Bernabeu after the July 2 elections, and he wants to bring Eriksson to Madrid, to work alongside Vicente del Bosque who would become director of football.

Launching his campaign, Baldesano said: “My team have spoken to Eriksson and he has given a commitment that if I win the election he will come and coach the team.”

Eriksson, 58, will leave his post as England coach after the World Cup finals.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was linked with Madrid last week after former world rally champion Carlos Sainz, running mate of Juan Miguel Villar Mir, claimed the Gunners boss was their main target.

Former president Lorenzo Sanz, Juan Palacios and Ramon Calderon are the other candidates for the elections.

Eriksson took over as England coach in January 2001 but after damaging reports about his private life, and a ‘fake sheikh’ scandal in which he divulged controversial views about several of the current squad, it was announced that he would stand down this summer.

He and his squad arrived in Baden-Baden for the second World Cup England have entered under the Swedish coach, and their opening match is on Saturday against Paraguay.

Before being appointed by the FA, Eriksson was a highly successful club manager. He achieved great success at IFK Gothenburg, Benfica and Lazio, and also steered Roma and Sampdoria to trophies.

England have been knocked out of the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004 at the quarter-final stage but have high hopes of advancing further in Germany over the coming five weeks.

Should he move to Madrid, it would be a popular move with David Beckham. Eriksson has been unstinting in his support of the man who became England captain just prior to the Swede’s arrival and who has retained the armband since.

Beckham, 31, has said he wants to settle in Spain after his career ends and, after three seasons in the Primera Liga has played down the notion he might be tempted to return to England.