Warning: Sven could resign

The media story that won't go away - for the British press at least - concerns the future of Sven-Goran Eriksson, England football manager. I suppose it is fair to say that I know him as well as any journalist in Sweden, so I am not surprised to be asked constantly: has Sven got itchy feet again? Until a few months ago, Sven was pretty much in control of his own press coverage. He is a master of the courteous, considered reply which gives away nothing at all. He made Alan Shearer look outspoken.

The only chink in this happy image was the suggestion, some weeks before the World Cup, that earlier this year he was on the verge of giving up the England

job to manage Manchester United. From my knowledge of Sven, I would guess that there might have been something in it, but that was then and this is now.

My feeling is that, while managing a national side does not entirely suit him, he is happy to stay in the England job. He likes and admires his players. While I can imagine him taking a job at Real Madrid or Manchester United, for the moment, professionally speaking, I think he is happy enough. The fly in the ointment, though, is the British press, and this should not be underestimated.

There has been much talk of his affair with Ulrika Jonsson, and recently there was talk of "a third woman". It would be a miracle if he - or anyone - didn't feel aggrieved at the intrusion on his privacy. (We Swedes are a small population with attitudes to match. We are used to privacy, and Sven is a Swede to the bottom of his heart.) He will always be the reserved kid from Torsby, in Vaermland, where the people are famed among their compatriots for their quiet, dry humour.

If Sven continues to be subject to harassment, he could well decide enough is enough. He is viewed as someone who is infinitely phlegmatic, who never loses his temper. That is wrong. He does not show his irritation easily, but those who misjudge it live to regret it. Once I had a meeting with Sven at his then club Roma's training camp in Tregoria outside Rome. When I arrived there Sven asked me to wait outside his office.

The row I heard from outside had to be heard to be believed. It was Sven bawling out Roma's star player, Roberto Pruzzo.

Afterwards, Sven told me: "I had to do it. He was lazy in training today. Roma is a bigger club than Pruzzo is a player. When I'm angry, I always say so, face to face." Sven is not a man the press should push too far. If the press oversteps the mark, there is every chance he will simply walk out.