Ex-England manager Eriksson takes Philippines job

MANILA: Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has been hired to lead the Philippines’ football team following the surprise departure of Three Lions football great Terry Butcher earlier this year.

Philippine team manager Dan Palami said the Swede would coach the Azkals in next month’s AFF Suzuki Cup and the Asian Cup in January.

“One of the legendary coaches of all time, coach Sven-Goran Eriksson will be coaching the Azkals for the Suzuki Cup and the Asian Cup,” Palami said in a video posted on the team’s Twitter page.

“He will be a great addition to the team and I’m sure the players will learn a lot from him.”

The contract terms of Eriksson, 70, have not been disclosed.

He fills a void left by the abrupt departure of Butcher, who resigned as head coach in August without ever taking charge of a single Azkals match.

• BERLIN: Bundesliga highflyers Borussia Moenchengladbach came unstuck 3-1 at Freiburg on Friday with their in-form striker Alassane Plea unable to add to his record-challenging goal tally.

The French forward has helped his team into second with eight goals in nine games and would have equalled a record if he had scored in the first five away games.

Thorgan Hazard did score in the first half from the penalty spot for M’gladbach to cancel out Nils Pietersen’s opening minute spot kick.

Luca Waldsmicht put Freiburg into the lead just before the hour mark with Luca Hoeler adding another in the fourth minute of injury time.

Leaders Borussia Dortmund faced a tough clash against Hertha Berlin while champions Bayern Munich to continue their mini-recovery after a four game winless run at Mainz late yesterday.