Eriksson keen to continue with SIPG

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Shanghai Daily, October 21, 2016
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Sven-Goran Eriksson's agent has said that the Swede is keen to extend his contract with the Chinese Super League side Shanghai SIPG.

It has been reported before that SIPG will retain the services of the 68-year-old coach if the team qualifies for next year's Asian Champions League.

SIPG looks very likely to finish fourth in the CSL standings. It has 43 points with three rounds still to play. Guangzhou Evergrande and Jiangsu Suning are first and second, respectively, followed by Greenland Shanghai Shenhua in third.

The top three finishers qualify for the Asian Champions League, while the fourth-placed team heads to playoffs.

SIPG had said it was aiming to finish in the top three at the start of the season. But Eriksson's agent Athole Still told ESPN that the former England boss wanted to stay in Shanghai and was happy at SIPG.

"He has one more year and as far as we are concerned there has been an assurance given that he will do the third year," said Still. "He is 99 percent certain to qualify for the Asian Champions League again if the team remains in fourth position."

Eriksson's tactics were questioned in the media after buying big but failing to deliver on the pitch and disappointing fans.

SIPG signed Brazilian striker Hulk for a record 55 million euros (US$60 million). It bought former Guangzhou Evergrande forward Elkeson at the beginning of the season to pair with Dario Conca. But both Hulk and Conca picked up injuries and missed out key fixtures.

Eriksson was also linked with the China national job after Gao Hongbo resigned earlier this month.

"I have not been in touch with the CFA, nor would I," said Still. "It would have been very wrong of me to do so. Sven is contracted to SIPG and he has told them he is looking forward to next year."

According to reports, World Cup-winning Italian coach Marcello Lippi has emerged as the favorite for the national job.

Eriksson has been in charge of SIPG since 2014 and finished second in the CSL last year and qualified for its first ever Asian Champions League.

It enjoyed a decent run in Asia, bowing out in the quarterfinals stage after being eliminated by South Korean side Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. The Koreans have reached the finals.

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