Former England and Mexico manager Sven-Goran Eriksson is to fly to Asia to discuss a possible World Cup finals campaign with North Korea, in what would be a controversial return for the Notts County director of football to the game's biggest stage.
Eriksson will fly to Beijing with his current employer, Notts County chief executive Peter Trembling, to negotiate a potential loan deal to guide the already-qualified DPR Korea through its first finals since 1966, according to the Guardian newspaper.
Given DPR Korea's uncertain standing in the global community, the appointment would likely draw criticism from some quarters. Eriksson has been a headline-magnet already this season since joining the ambitious League Two club as part of the club's wealthy, secretive new owners' proposed revolution.
DPR Korea coach Kim Jong-hun is under fire over concerns his team's playing style isn't good enough to challenge in South Africa next June, despite navigating his side through the tougher of two Asian zone qualifying groups. The nation qualified behind rivals South Korea after conceding just five goals in eight games, but scoring just seven times in the process.
Eriksson has been to the last two World Cups with England, guiding his team to the quarter final stage in 2002 and 2006.
Adopted from http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=685140&sec=worldcup2010&cc=4716&campaign=rss&source=soccernet
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I believe this is a great strategy or decision by North Korea to request Eriksson to coach North Korea at the World Cup. He is a great coach and a lot of experiences in the tournament, therefore able to contribute a lot to long time absenttee North Korea.
However the main problem will be language barrier, insufficient time to train the players to suit his playing style, and eventually the heavy public and news pressure he going to receive when he take over the job.
Actually his appointment really not fair to the existing coach as he worked hard to get North Korea qualified but end up get nothing, he should be given the chance to continue what he is doing currently.
