What's going on in a player's head is as important as what's happening on the field, says the calmly passionate Sven-Göran Eriksson as he leads England to Portugal 2004

When he was appointed manager of England in January 2001, Sven-Göran Eriksson became the first foreigner to take on the second most important job in the country. Leaving Lazio, where he was adored by fans for winning the league and the UEFA Cup for the Roman club for the first time in years, the Swedish manager very quickly discovered that he had arrived in a suspicious and cynical country. At his first press conference in early 2001, some journalists did their best to catch Eriksson out by asking if, for example, he could name the Leicester City goalkeeper. The calm and measured Swede smiled, his watchful blue eyes reserved but not quite icy, and said: "I assure you that when I come here, I will know everything about the English game... Yes, I am from Sweden, but I can't help that." When someone asked about the reputed £15m he was to earn over five years as England coach, he shrugged: "I didn't take this job for the money, or for the weather, that is for sure. I could have earned more money if I'd stayed in Italy or Spain." England players quizzed about the secret of Sven's success always say he doesn't speak much. Just enough to give them confidence and ease their anxiety. He doesn't see the point in losing his temper during training and he always maintains his self-discipline during games.