Eriksson plays down Ivory Coast link

09th March

Sven-Goran Eriksson's agent says the coach was unlikely to take charge of the Ivory Coast team at the World Cup.

The Ivorian FA revealed they had held talks with the former England boss over the vacant post.

The Swede met the Ivorian authorities last week but a deal is not likely.

"I don't think the Swedes need to get very excited about the link to the Ivory Coast. I don't think he (Eriksson) will coach them this summer," Athole Still said.

"It's correct that we met the Ivory Coast association. But we were there to see their match against South Korea, and we met their association, too.

"So this has been blown up from nothing."

Ivory Coast is now chasing Dutch coach Guus Hiddink for the upcoming World Cup un South Africa in June.

Hiddink, who guided Russia to the semi-finals of the 2008 European Championship, coached South Korea at the World Cup in 2002 and Australia in 2006.

bbc