England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has confirmed that he had already reached a private agreement with the Football Association that he could leave after the 2006 World Cup, prior to the damaging revelations that have appeared in the News of the World newspaper.

“We had a private agreement that I was more or less allowed to leave after the World Cup.”

The 57-year-old’s contract was originally due to end in 2008.

When the story about Eriksson’s comments was published on 15 January, Athol Still, the agent of the England coach said there was the possibility of his client signing a deal until 2010.

But Eriksson has now admitted that he was always going to leave after this summer’s finals.

“Since chief executive Brian Barwick came into the job about a year ago we always had discussions about what was going to happen after the World Cup 2006,” added Eriksson.

“And we had a private agreement that we would talk about it at a certain point.

“Now there’s been an agreement and we have to look at the World Cup and concentrate on that,” he said.

“At the moment this is the most important thing because we have a chance to win it. Let us not spoil that.

“There will be a lot of rumours that’s for sure, every time a club is losing my name will crop up.

“I will not listen to other clubs and countries when there is football going on in England.”

“I’ve been asked to win the World Cup and after that I’ve been asked to look after my life.”

Asked if he would manage a club in England, Eriksson said: “I have absolutely no idea.

“The only thing I know for sure is that I don’t want to claim my pension yet. I don’t have any offers at all.

“In football, you don’t look for jobs – you are asked.”

Eriksson also cited press intrusion into his private life as a reason for leaving his post.

“Since some time ago I felt there was too much circus around my private life. Maybe this was one too many.

“I’ve been asked to win the World Cup and after that I’ve been asked to look after my life.”

“It’s always been great pressure and it will be even bigger in the next five or six months and I like that. It’s better to have a job with a lot of pressure than with none at all.

“But I think myself sometimes I get fed up reading about my private life what I did and said and I think people in general are getting fed up with Sven and what’s going on.

“We should talk about football but unfortunately it is difficult in this country.”

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