Sven-Goran Eriksson – all his passion spent?

When the Thai-based King Power consortium took over as owners of Championship side Leicester City in August last year, they had one aim – promotion to the Premier League.

With money apparently no object, they turned to a man who had been everywhere and done – almost – everything.

Sven-Goran Eriksson would not come cheap – he was reported to have signed a £1million-a-year, two-year contract – and his record from his former period in charge at Manchester City was to bring in expensive players. But he would ensure the club had a high profile – one that the owners no doubt thought could do no harm to their company’s international reputation.

A look at his record reveals an unfortunate pattern. He never really failed – but neither has he exactly succeeded.

Having to “get by” with mainly costly loans and free agents for the rest of his first season, he looked as if he might take Leicester to the play-offs. But towards the end of the season their form dipped and they ended up in 10th place. Not to worry though, Sven now had the summer to build his own team.

And it did not take him long to spend the King Power cash. Twelve new players came in, including a sprinkling of big names like goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel – son of the Manchester United legend Peter – from Leeds. The estimated total transfer bill ranged from a conservative £10m to a more realistic £15m.

The final straw

Promotion had moved from being an aim to a requirement. But Leicester’s form so far this season has been consistently inconsistent. The final straw for the club’s owners was a 3-0 home defeat by struggling Millwall at the weekend.

Eriksson reportedly called his players together on Monday and told them if he had been a club’s owner he’d have sacked his manager after a defeat like that. A few hours later, the Thais took his advice.

Sven was popular with his players, the Leicester fans and the local media. An open, intelligent and courteous man, players wanted to play for him. Many talked of how they had learned so much and how their technique had been improved by his coaching abilities.

And yet…A look at his record since his successful early days in Portugal and Italy reveals an unfortunate pattern. He has never really failed – but neither has he exactly succeeded.

England’s best recent manager?

He was perhaps England’s best recent manager – but could take them no further than quarter-final stages of world and European championships. He spent a lot of money at Manchester City – getting them briefly into the top three of the Premier League – but they ended up ninth. And now the same pattern is being followed at Leicester.

Perhaps the answer lies in the crucial football quality of passion – or lack of it. For Bill Shankly football was not a matter of life and death. “It’s more important than that,” he famously observed. For Sven you sense that there are more important things than football – and perhaps this somehow communicates itself to his players. They love him, but would they die in the ditch for him?

For Sven there’s always the consolation of another pay-off. He was reportedly paid £3million when the FA ended his England contract. His Manchester City career ended in a £2million pay-off, we’re told – and similarly brief periods as national coach for Mexico and then Ivory Coast reportedly ended in seven-figure compensation payments. Another now from Leicester City?

Channel 4 News Assistant Programme Editor Malcolm Boughen declares an interest – he is a Leicester City fan. You can follow him on Twitter here @malcboughen.