Taking North Korea to the World Cup is not in Sven-Goran Eriksson’s plans

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After two respected British newspapers had reported that former England and Mexico coach Sven-Goran Eriksson was contemplating offers to coach North Korea’s team at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the Swede has shot down the story.

‘I haven’t had any offers and I have no plans to be manager, or whatever it is, of North Korea,’ said Eriksson, who became director of football for fourth-division Notts County in England after being fired by Mexico in April.

Nor is Eriksson, 61, first in line to become Sweden’s next coach in the wake of Lars Lagerback‘s retirement Wednesday after the Swedes failed to qualify for the World Cup. Lagerback had been in charge both as co-coach and on his own for a decade.

The Swedish soccer federation has declined to state whether Eriksson is even being considered, saying that a short list of candidates had yet to be compiled.

-- Grahame L. Jones