David Beckham’s former England boss Sven Goran Eriksson said today he failed in an audacious attempt to persuade the L.A. Galaxy star to return to English soccer.
Eriksson was recently installed at English second-tier side Leicester City and told by the club’s ambitious new owners to deliver a stunning addition to the team’s playing squad to propel it to the Premier League. The Swede looked to use his own special connection to his former England captain, arguably the game’s most famous player. But, unsurprisingly, the offer of a short term deal in the country’s Championship failed to tempt Beckham to join on loan in the January transfer window during the MLS offseason.
“I spoke to his agent to see if there was a small chance, but he said it was not possible,” Eriksson said. “It is difficult when you talk about players at that level. It is very difficult for a player to drop down into a lower division.”
Tottenham striker Robbie Keane and Manchester City’s Roque Santa Cruz were also reported to be on Eriksson’s radar, but it appeared they, too, refused the opportunity to join a team currently placed 16th in the table.
“It is interesting the players that have been mentioned,” he said. “I made phone calls to more or less all of them. Most of them, they don’t really want to come to our league. If we get to the Premier League it will be much easier to get these players.”
