Sven-Goran Eriksson: I'm sure Arsene Wenger could be the next England manager

Posted Wednesday, October 05, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

Sven-Goran Eriksson has suggested Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger as a possible successor to Fabio Capello as England manager.

Capello’s contract expires after the European Championships in Poland and Ukraine next summer and speculation has suggested the FA is set to appoint an English coach, with Harry Redknapp and Roy Hodgson named as front-runners.

Yet Eriksson believes Wenger could do the job, claiming that the Arsenal boss lives for the game.

“Arsene Wenger can adapt to everything,” the Swede told reporters. “He lives for football. You see how much it matters to him every game, but you also see when it’s a Euro or a World Cup, he is working on it, for French television, so he doesn’t miss anything. That’s his holiday. I’m sure he can do that [job], but it’s just a name.”

Eriksson also underlined the importance of the team being rested for the tournament.

“If Capello has everyone fit, not too exhausted - and that’s a big, big issue - then England always have a chance,” he continued. "It’s absolutely vital for the England national team. Every time [during my reign], three times, when the players come together before a tournament, there are long, long discussions with the physios, the doctors. It is a case of ‘where shall we start’? Once, I said we should send them to a beach for one week to rest. We did it as well, with families for a holiday. But that’s a big problem.”

The Swede also said he was glad to see Owen Hargreaves fit again, and praised the character that the Manchester City man has shown throughout his career.

"He was an amazing young man because when I took him for the first time [with England], technically he was not that good,” said Eriksson. "But at Bayern Munich, every afternoon he would be working by himself, with a coach, and he finished up taking all the free kicks and corners for them. That shows he has a hard head. I really hope he can come back also with England."

Eriksson is also convinced that Frank Lampard still has something to offer the England team.

"You know that he will always score goals - and, should England enter the playoffs, then Steven Gerrard must be unleashed," he said. "He’s a very important player."