MANILA, Philippines – Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has been hired to lead the Philippine men’s football team following the surprise departure of Three Lions football great Terry Butcher.

Philippine team manager Dan Palami said the Swede would coach the Azkals in next month’s 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup and the 2019 Asian Cup in January.

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

Eriksson will be on an initial six-month contract and will be open for an extension. 

The Swede will join forces with current Azkals adviser Scott Cooper as they have worked together in Leicester City FC from 2010-2011.

“When we were looking at candidates, I’ve always been a dreamer so why not go for that [hiring Eriksson], I was able to sell to Sven the dream of Philippine football,” added Palami.

“He’s been there. He’s done it. And beyond any financial renumeration, it’s not about that. He believes in the legacy he can leave behind for Philippine football.”

Eriksson, 70, rose to fame after leading England men’s national team to the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Last August, Butcher surprisingly quit as head coach just 50 days after taking over the Philippine men’s football team. 

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

Butcher, a veteran of 3 World Cups who had managed in England, Scotland, Wales and Australia, lasted less than 50 days in the job after deciding he could not carry out his plans for the team.

Eriksson in 2001 became the first foreigner to head England’s football team, and has since also coached Mexico and the Ivory Coast as well as league clubs in Sweden, Portugal, Italy and China.

He takes charge as the Philippine team enjoys unprecedented success, having jumped as high as 111 in the FIFA rankings in May 2018. – With a report from Agence France-Presse