SVEN Goran Eriksson’s signing as the new Azkals coach is the biggest for the Azkals and Philippine football.
Azkals manager Dan Palami has outbided the national teams of Iraq and Cameroon to sign the former England coach to a six-month deal.
He will lead the Azkals in the coming Suzuki Cup which will start on November 13 in Bacolod City and the Asian Cup which is set in January in United Arab Emirates.
It is still a mystery on how Palami convinced the 70-year-old Eriksson to become the manager of the Azkals after former England Captain Terry Butcher resigned without even leading them in a single match.
Eriksson is now in the twilight of his life and career but he is still respected in the football world, globally. His average salary in his past managerial jobs were $2 million a year which is around P104 million.
That is more than the budget of the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) the entire year. How could the PFF afford that?
Azkals manager Dan Palami in a report said that Eriksson was convinced to take the job by “selling the idea of leaving a legacy” in the football scene in the country.
If that is true then we need to build a statue for Sven even if he has not yet won a single match for the Azkals.
Palami made a brilliant presentation to Sven.
The Swede does not need the Philippine money. At age 70 and collecting a total of 18 major trophies in his career as a coach, he wants his legacy etched on the walls of world football as the man responsible of winning the first trophy for the Philippines.
Eriksson is worth $35 million, according to reports. That is more than a billion pesos. He could just stay in Sweden and enjoy his retirement.
However, he is here and has already started working to form and train the team in preparation for the match against Singapore in the Suzuki Cup on November 13.
It will be a busy six months for him. Let the entire Philippine Azkals Nation back him. We also hope that he will earn his 19th major trophy this time for the Azkals. (l.biantan@gmail.com)