ANATOLIY KONKOV was elected as president of the Football Federation of Ukraine at the organization's 14th Congress. The former FC Shakhtar Donetsk, FC Dynamo Kyiv and USSR midfielder takes over from GRIGORIY SURKIS. Surkis, president since '00, decided not to stand for a fourth mandate, and will now continue his association with the FFU as honorary president after presiding over Euro 2012 co-hosted with Poland. Konkov said, "During my reign as FFU president, I see my main task not only in continuing the activity of my predecessors, but in producing new ideas which could benefit Ukrainian football's future. The FFU's priority is to ensure the revival of grassroots football" (UEFA).
COUNTRY SWAP: Former England football Manager SVEN GORAN ERIKSSON has been named Thai club BEC Tero Sasana Technical Dir. Eriksson will be in charge of "improving tactics for the players" and will be on the sideline of the pitch to help the staff coach starting with the next match, staying with the club until the end of the season. The move marks the Swede's first expansion into Asian football in 35 years of coaching (BANGKOK POST, 9/3). Eriksson managed Man City under Thai Owner THAKSIN SHINAWATRA and "previously expressed his fondness for the tropical climes of Thailand." Former German footballer DIETMAR HAMANN wrote in his autobiography that he recalled Eriksson telling him on a preseason tour of Thailand: "You know Kaiser, I like this place. I think I will manage for another five years and come back here and live with two women. Yes. I think I need two beautiful women" (London DAILY MAIL, 9/3).
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