Ending a relationship is always tricky, "it's not you, it's me", a gentle letdown, a brutal text… but publishing a poem online lauding an old flame?
That was the fate met by Sven-Goran Eriksson, the veteran Swedish coach of Chinese second tier football team Shenzhen FC on Wednesday. A verse was published on the Guangdong-based club's website to welcome back former coach Wang Baoshan – before a parting of ways with Eriksson was announced.
"Eleven years ago, you led Shenzhen football and never let us down. Nine years ago, you took over responsibilities and saved Shenzhen football. Memories of fighting together have never gone away, and now we recall the legend. For Shenzhen, we are reunited, starting a new trip together. Coach Wang, welcome home."
Shenzhen FC website
A little after the poem was published, a statement confirmed Eriksson had gone. “The negotiations between the two sides were very smooth, leaving only some details to be completed by lawyers."
Wang, a 54-year-old former China national team striker, is tasked with reinvigorating a team that has failed to win a game since mid-April. His club must finish in the top two to secure promotion to the Chinese Super League (CSL).
Wang Baoshan played for China 20 times, and previously managed Shenzhen in 2005-06. /VCG Photo
The new coach played 20 times for China scoring two goals, took charge of the country's under-20 team in 2001 and assisted the national side in 2007. He previously managed Shenzhen in 2005-06 and returned to the club in 2008.
Shenzhen, now owned by property development company the Kaisa Group, chased promotion to the CSL with a 40 million US dollar pre-season outlay, but an eight-match winless run under Eriksson has seen the team drift to fourth in the second division.
Familiar feeling for Sven
The poetic end to Eriksson's reign in Shenzhen may be unusual, but the 69-year-old has plenty of experience of success, controversy – and sackings.
Shenzhen was his 16th frontline managerial appointment, and given Chinese football's reputation for dismissals – six CSL coaches left in the weeks up to early June, according to AFP – Eriksson is unlikely to be ruffled.
Eriksson has coached three teams in China. /VCG Photo
He established himself as a top-level coach winning trophies at leading European clubs Benfica, Roma and Sampdoria in the 1980s and 90s before guiding Italy's Lazio to only their second Serie A success in 2000.
But after a glittering start to his career, winning 18 trophies, he was poached by the English national team on a bumper contract. After losing in the quarter-finals of three major tournaments and various newspaper scandals, he was shown the door.
Eriksson had a trophy-filled coaching career, until he took on the the job of England coach in 2001. /Xinhua Photo
Then followed a succession of short term jobs in England, stints in charge of Mexico and Cote d'Ivoire, as well as technical director posts in Thailand and Dubai, before he landed in the Chinese Super League with Guangzhou.
A contract disagreement took him to Shanghai, and after a two-year spell he began an ill-fated six months with Shenzhen. With only five wins in 13 games, Eriksson is now on the lookout for job 17.
Where will he turn up next? The Swede - linked to the Chinese national team before the appointment of Marcelo Lippi - never struggles to find a suitor.
