Year out stressed Eriksson
Eriksson is pleased to be back in football
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Saturday, 07, Jul 2007 12:09
New Manchester City manager Sven Gorgan Eriksson says the year he spent away from football was the worst time in his career.
Eriksson said he was delighted to have taken over from Stuart Pearce as City manager after being appointed by new owner, former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The Swede has been out of work since stepping down as England boss after the defeat to Portugal in the World Cup quarter-finals last year.
Lazio's former manager said he was looking forward to being involved on a day-to-day basis again.
Eriksson said: "The last year has been the most stressful time I have had in my life. More stressful than being involved in any football match or sitting on any bench.
"Waking up in the morning after one month's holiday, not knowing what you're going to do, was awful. I'd never had that in my life before, so I am very happy to be back in football."
The 59-year-old insisted he did not care whether he had been the board's first choice manager, after reports that former Chelsea coach Claudio Ranieri was the early favourite, and was simply happy to be back in management.
Eriksson said he was pleased to be at a club with ambition.
"I always said I wanted to be at big club. But this is a big club," he said.
"The good thing is that this club has the right ambitions. It's very good to be at this club at this moment, because you can feel the optimism - and I can't wait to start working."