Eriksson set to take over as Manchester City coach

LONDON: Former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson looks set to become Manchester City's new manager after he was seen at the Premier League club's training ground on Wednesday, British media reported.   

Eriksson arrived mid-morning and was expected to meet up with the squad he will be coaching next season, provided the current takeover bid by ousted Thai Premier Thaksin Shinawatra is successful.   

Thaksin, who wants to reach a 75 per cent stake before unveiling his new manager, had named the Swede as one of the candidates for the job on June 21, describing him as "very capable".   

Eriksson flew into Manchester on Tuesday evening but was giving little away, telling reporters at the airport: "If you wait until Wednesday you will know everything".   

The 59-year-old has been out of football since stepping down as England coach after last year's World Cup, ending a five-year reign in which his team had reached the quarter-finals of the 2002 and 2006 World Cups and Euro 2004.   

City, who sacked his predecessor Stuart Pearce in May, would be hoping Eriksson can reproduce the trophy success he enjoyed in his native Sweden, Portugal and Italy, where he won titles with the likes of Lazio and Benfica.   

City players were expected at their Carrington centre to begin pre-season training later in the morning.