Swede proves a master at juggling two jobs

With two press conferences in two different countries in one day, Sven Goran Eriksson - the Lazio coach and from 1 July 2001 the new England manager - acquainted himself with the joys of job-share yesterday.

With two press conferences in two different countries in one day, Sven Goran Eriksson - the Lazio coach and from 1 July 2001 the new England manager - acquainted himself with the joys of job-share yesterday.

If Lazio agree, and the Swede is hopeful that they will, then Eriksson will take charge of England's World Cup qualifying matches against Finland and Albania in March, and Greece in June, while still remaining the coach of Lazio.

But the Swede is not worried by the prospect. After telling the British media, in a hastily arranged 8am conference in St Albans, that "I am not so limited that I only have to think about one thing," Eriksson flew back to Rome to tell the Italian press that he is up to the task."It's not the first time that I have been in a similar situation," he said, after taking Lazio training. "It happened when I was coaching Fiorentina and left to move on to Benfica. I took the purple squad [Fiorentina] into the Uefa Cup."

There was not as much consistency, however, in Eriksson's answers to where his loyalties lay. To the British press, Eriksson said: " My heart is always with me. But it will be more and more English." To the Italians, perhaps wisely, Eriksson declared: "Until 30 June I will be Lazio coach, from the first of July I will lead England. Until that date I will remain to all intents and purposes laziale."

But, to both sets of press, Eriksson said it was a job he could not turn down. "I met the FA executives on Sunday night," Eriksson admitted in Rome. "By Monday night I signed the contract and Tuesday I told Cragnotti [the Lazio president]. I have always refused other proposals but I could not say no to England."

Eriksson believes his successor at Lazio should be their former player Roberto Mancini, who, the Swede says, is "ready for Serie A," but there were more things on his mind after a hectic day. It started with an assured performance in St Albans. Later Eriksson was to say: "I will try to defend myself, just as I have done in Italy." After yesterday, he knows he will have to.