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Sven-Goran Eriksson wanted four foreign players in England squad
Sven-Goran Eriksson made moves to flood the England national team with foreign-born players, according former FA executive director David Davies.
By Telegraph staff
Discussion: David Davies and Sven-Goran Eriksson Photo: John Taylor
Anglicised: Carlo Cudicini is eligible to play for England Photo: Reuters
In his forthcoming book FA Confidential, serialised in the Daily Mail, Davies reveals Eriksson wanted to bring Carlo Cudicini, Louis Saha, Steed Malbranque and Edu into his England squad after Euro 2004.
At that time, none of the four foreign players had represented their home nations, and would have been eligible to play for England under Fifa's residence rules. Davies says "very serious consideration" was given to Eriksson's idea, despite the obvious public outcry it would have provoked.
Davies writes: "'I like Carlo Cudicini', Sven told me. However, our goalkeeping coach Ray Clemence was particularly concerned, insisting to Sven it would destroy our keepers.
"'Can you also find out about Malbranque, Edu and Saha?' Sven asked me. I wasn't sure what the public reaction would be to an Italian, a Brazilian and two Frenchmen coming into the squad but I did Sven's bidding.
"However, all my discreet enquiries to clubs and agents led to nothing. Miraculously, the moment our interest became known Saha and Edu were called up by their own nations, making them ineligible."
Manuel Almunia, Arsenal's Spanish goalkeeper, is the latest foreigner mentioned as a possible England international. Almunia is behind Iker Casillas and Pepe Reina in the race for Spain's No 1 jersey, and has not ruled out the possibility of representing England, where he has lived since 2004.
Davies also reveals that Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger were talked about as potential England managers before Eriksson was appointed.
"As much as Sven stood out, other names did make it on to the first list of candidates, however," writes Davies. "For all the 'don't go back' caveats, Terry Venables was on it, as was Arsene Wenger, Alex Ferguson, Marcello Lippi, Bobby Robson, Fabio Capello and Roy Hodgson.
"Chief executive Adam Crozier also scribbled down younger English names like Peter Taylor, Bryan Robson and even an untested Alan Shearer. But in the end, the decision was made to appoint the first foreigner to the post. Whatever the critics claimed, Sven went on to do well: 40 wins and only 10 defeats in 67 matches."
The lack of a winter break was a continual frustration for Eriksson during his time in charge of England. And Davies recalls how the Premier League and Sky Sports blocked any change to the structure of the season.
Davies writes: "'We need a winter break,' Sven kept saying to anyone who would listen, thinking ahead to the 2006 World Cup.
"Making use of research showing players were four times less likely to get injured during the last three months of the season in countries with a winter break, Sven and I addressed the Premier League chairmen.
"They voted 19 to one in favour, with only Charlton's Richard Murray opposed. Sven's proposal for a 13-day break in January, missing only one weekend, with seven days' complete break followed by six training, also found support from the Professional Game Board and the FA Council.
"But Sven and I ran into a very charming, astute roadblock in the form of Richard Scudamore, chief executive of the Premier League.
"Scudamore had committed to so many live televised games that it was a struggle to fit them in. I understood his dilemma.
"Sky Sport's managing director, Vic Wakeling, fought TV's corner and, having shelled out more than a billion quid, he wrote to me on April 15, 2004: 'We are a long way from making this work.' Sven was dismayed."
Sven-Goran Eriksson made moves to flood the England national team with foreign-born players, according former FA executive director David Davies.
By Telegraph staff
Discussion: David Davies and Sven-Goran Eriksson Photo: John Taylor Anglicised: Carlo Cudicini is eligible to play for England Photo: Reuters In his forthcoming book FA Confidential, serialised in the Daily Mail, Davies reveals Eriksson wanted to bring Carlo Cudicini, Louis Saha, Steed Malbranque and Edu into his England squad after Euro 2004.
At that time, none of the four foreign players had represented their home nations, and would have been eligible to play for England under Fifa's residence rules. Davies says "very serious consideration" was given to Eriksson's idea, despite the obvious public outcry it would have provoked.
Davies writes: "'I like Carlo Cudicini', Sven told me. However, our goalkeeping coach Ray Clemence was particularly concerned, insisting to Sven it would destroy our keepers.
"'Can you also find out about Malbranque, Edu and Saha?' Sven asked me. I wasn't sure what the public reaction would be to an Italian, a Brazilian and two Frenchmen coming into the squad but I did Sven's bidding.
"However, all my discreet enquiries to clubs and agents led to nothing. Miraculously, the moment our interest became known Saha and Edu were called up by their own nations, making them ineligible."
Manuel Almunia, Arsenal's Spanish goalkeeper, is the latest foreigner mentioned as a possible England international. Almunia is behind Iker Casillas and Pepe Reina in the race for Spain's No 1 jersey, and has not ruled out the possibility of representing England, where he has lived since 2004.
Davies also reveals that Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger were talked about as potential England managers before Eriksson was appointed.
"As much as Sven stood out, other names did make it on to the first list of candidates, however," writes Davies. "For all the 'don't go back' caveats, Terry Venables was on it, as was Arsene Wenger, Alex Ferguson, Marcello Lippi, Bobby Robson, Fabio Capello and Roy Hodgson.
"Chief executive Adam Crozier also scribbled down younger English names like Peter Taylor, Bryan Robson and even an untested Alan Shearer. But in the end, the decision was made to appoint the first foreigner to the post. Whatever the critics claimed, Sven went on to do well: 40 wins and only 10 defeats in 67 matches."
The lack of a winter break was a continual frustration for Eriksson during his time in charge of England. And Davies recalls how the Premier League and Sky Sports blocked any change to the structure of the season.
Davies writes: "'We need a winter break,' Sven kept saying to anyone who would listen, thinking ahead to the 2006 World Cup.
"Making use of research showing players were four times less likely to get injured during the last three months of the season in countries with a winter break, Sven and I addressed the Premier League chairmen.
"They voted 19 to one in favour, with only Charlton's Richard Murray opposed. Sven's proposal for a 13-day break in January, missing only one weekend, with seven days' complete break followed by six training, also found support from the Professional Game Board and the FA Council.
"But Sven and I ran into a very charming, astute roadblock in the form of Richard Scudamore, chief executive of the Premier League.
"Scudamore had committed to so many live televised games that it was a struggle to fit them in. I understood his dilemma.
"Sky Sport's managing director, Vic Wakeling, fought TV's corner and, having shelled out more than a billion quid, he wrote to me on April 15, 2004: 'We are a long way from making this work.' Sven was dismayed."
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