Rui Costa, the sporting director at Benfica is trying to lure Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson to Estadio da Luz, but according the new newly appointed director, that effort might have failed. Rui Costa, who retired from active playing was appointed the new Sporting Director 2 days after hanging up his boots has stated that he wants to ‘give this club everything it deserves'.

One of it would be to bring Eriksson to Benfica. Rui Costa thinks highly of the Swede manager, who is having his own problems at Manchester City. He said “He is one of an exclusive group of coaches who have the right profile to be coach of Benfica.But the situation doesn't allow us to hold out much hope and we have decided to look at other solutions.”

At this moment, the former England manager seemed to have his position at the Eastlands undermined where owner Thaksin Shinawatra would most likely offer the post to current Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari. But Eriksson, who is on a playing tour with the City team over at the far east has already been approached to coach the Mexican national team who recently sacked their coach Hugo Sanchez.

Eriksson told Esto newspaper that “I was called from Mexico. My agent is the person who analyses the contract terms. I can just say I was contacted. However, it's not the right time to make a decision. The Mexico offer is not the first proposal. It is just one more and I will study it with my people. I have nothing clear yet. My relationship with Manchester City is still running, we have a tour now (to Thailand) and I will complete commitments. Then I don't know what is going to happen.”

After leaving the England job, Erisksson has since been coaching at club level and a return to the national level seemed to be his forte. “Coaching a national team is always attractive, no matter if it is Mexico, England, Sweden or any other. It's a big commitment for any coach. I'm glad to be offered to coach Mexico.”