Aston Villa Football Club

• Nickname:The Villains
• Founded:1874
• Manager:Paul Lambert

• Ground:Villa Park
• Capacity:42584

Sven said to be keen on Villa job

10 Aug 2010 - 12:10:00

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Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson is reportedly interested in succeeding Martin O'Neill as Aston Villa's new boss.

Former Villa star Gareth Southgate is also being linked with the vacancy that arose when O'Neill sensationally resigned on Monday, just five days before the start of the new Premier League campaign.

Ajax manager Martin Jol and the United States coach Bob Bradley are also interested in the role but a source close to Eriksson has said: "Of course, Sven would be interested in this job.

"He's always said that he'd like to go back into the Premier League. It's a big target for him."

The club's American owner Randy Lerner has flown to Birmingham to meet Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner and the players.

Bradley, whose contract with the US Soccer Federation runs out in December, has emerged as one of the favourites to land the job after saying: "I've said over and over that I'm always excited about new and different challenges.

"Certainly coaching in Europe at some point is something that I'd love to do."

O'Neill is believed to have resigned after being told there was little money to spend on new players even if James Milner, Brad Friedel and Ashley Young leave the club this month.