The former England boss has enjoyed a fine return to club management since being appointed by Thaksin in the summer and his work in elevating the club to fourth in the Barclays Premier League has not gone unnoticed.
Thaksin told the Daily Star: "I think Sven can remain our manager until he retires.
"I didn't expect the team would achieve this kind of level. But I did believe when I arrived that Manchester City could improve a lot.
"And you simply have to hand it to Sven who has done a marvellous job."
He added: "He is a very good football strategist and he teaches the players well. His motivational ability is another important part of his game.
"We consider him as a world-class manager. There are not many of them in football but Sven is certainly one of them."
How long do you think Sven will be with City? Have your say.
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
life in a blender (21/12/2007 at 09:14)
MCFCUK, Urmston (21/12/2007 at 09:16)
Spiderman (21/12/2007 at 09:39)
proudtobeblue (21/12/2007 at 10:05)
Elano's best goal ever (21/12/2007 at 10:05)
Sven is a class act. Could well be the best that we have ever had (yes,yes I remember Joe and Mal but they only ever did it with one team. i.e they never rebuilt and pushed on like Wenger or Sir Baconface)
Personally I believe that Sven and the doctor have this season down as a 'suck it and see' season. Hence the toying of the goalkeepers and the rotation of the strikers. I reckon that our league position is a bonus considering that Sven and his squad are on a huge learning curve. However once he has given a fair crack of the whip to the likes of Samaras, Vassell and Mpenza and then brought his own players in we will really see the benefit of his genius. That may not be until next season.
The rest of this season will be about bedding in the new players that come in January and preparing for, at worst, a UEFA cup campaign next season.
We need to have a manager on an extended reign. It has been to our serious detriment over the last 30 years that we have changed managers almost every season. Everton are proving what can be achieved by showing faith in a manager and there is a mob not far from here who appear to have done well with the same bloke at the helm for a number of years - and I'm not talking about Dave Pace at Droylsden.
Stay for years please Sven. We can realise everything here.
RJKS, Ireland (21/12/2007 at 10:29)
Ste (21/12/2007 at 10:32)
He still lives in a hotel which for me says he has no plans to spend his retirement in sunny manchester.
One of the big boys will come calling in the summer. It will take a lot of Franks money to keep him at city.
Denis Law's Backheel, Salford (21/12/2007 at 10:51)
I appreciate your oppinion mate but I take humbrage with your comment regarding Joe Mercer not pushing on and rebuilding like Taggart.
You have to remember that Joe was quite old and of very poor health. He had to basically step down after only a few years managing City and so did not have time to rebuild. If he would have had time, do you really think that he would have been given an open cheque book like Taggart and spend well over half a BILLION pounds?
Joe along with Allsion, took City from the nether regions of Division 2 and won the League, FA Cup, European Cup Winners Cup etc with a team that cost peanuts at the relative cost in those days. The only other manager that did something similar was Cloughie and that in itself is testament to how damned good Joe was.
RIP Joe, a true City legend and a thoroughly decent human being to boot.
Nuff said, I'll now get back off my soapbox.
Oh and I hate Taggart more than I hate Edwards the bent butchers' son.
DUBLIN BLUE (21/12/2007 at 10:52)
DJ, Chorlton (21/12/2007 at 10:55)
Jack Thorley Timperley (21/12/2007 at 11:01)
nick lawless,caterham,surrey,(Blackley born and bred), caterham (21/12/2007 at 11:12)
newone, Manchester (21/12/2007 at 11:35)
BristolStevefromOldham, bristol (21/12/2007 at 11:38)
It now looks as if the top 2 are pulling away. I think that of the other two Liverpool are far and away the weakest side. They can only be ranked with us, Villa, Everton etc. Chelsea also are dodgy esp. with Drogba and Terry injured.
I think the success of the best clubs is built around 4 players: the two centre backs and the two in front of them. At Stretford you have Vidic Ferd Anderson Hargreaves: At Arsenal you have Gallas Toure Fabregas Flamini: at Chelsea you have Carvalho Terry Makalele and Mikel. At City we have Dunne Richards Hamann Johnson. If you look at the crap clubs (Fulham, Bolton, Newcastle etc.) they have real dross in those positions. Watching the "4" play each other over the weekend I was struck by the ferocity of the battles around those sets of four players. I am beginning to think we need at least one more in this area, possibly two; one an alternative and eventual replacement for Hamann (Gelson?) and the other an alternative to Richards (Ned? or do we have to buy?).
Overall I think the current top 2 plus Chelsea will finish 1,2,3 and that City, Everton, Villa, Liverpool, Blackburn are fighting for position in the top 8.
BristolStevefromOldham, bristol (21/12/2007 at 11:40)
Spiderman (21/12/2007 at 11:56)
(Sam Haggar) SVEN AND FRANK SKY BLUE ARMY COME ON CITY!!! (21/12/2007 at 12:07)
this was my top 5 to teplace pearce when he got sacked
1 Raneri
2 Ramos
3 Hiddick
4 Alidyce
5 McClish
I Have been very supriswe we need to keep hm untill he retires even if we have give him more money like £5.5m a year
Elano's best goal ever (21/12/2007 at 12:16)
Fair call. I wasn't trying to knock Joe, the man's a legend. I just think that potentially Sven has an opportunity to be the best that we have had.
Citizen Smith, Tooting Popular Front (City Branch) (21/12/2007 at 12:17)
But let's not lose the plot. There was - and still is - a 3 year plan. We must not rachet up our expectations of Sven and the boys just because we seem to be ahead of target so quickly.
Things can go wrong (maybe they are starting to already) but that should not disappoint us in the short-term. Keep your eyes on the long game - and we only do that by making sure Sven stays beyond the first 3 years, that he is able to build and develop the squad every season and that we, the fans, stay loyal and don't get on their backs as soon as we have a dip in form.
We don't just want a brief flirt with success only to crash back down again - we want sustained success over the long term - a regular in the top 4 and Europe and a regular contender for trophies.
Keep the faith!!!!
CTID
Eric, Dutch, 32 years and still there (21/12/2007 at 12:23)
Uncle Buck, Burnage (21/12/2007 at 12:23)
Phil Neal's Laxative, The Dugout (21/12/2007 at 12:26)
For those with long enough memories, this sounds frighteningly similar to the ringing endorsement once issued by then chairman David Bernstein regarding Joe Royle. Jikes!!!!
Sorry about that, but déjà-vu gives me the craps....
The Iceman Cometh, Manchester (21/12/2007 at 12:27)
Slip inside the eye of your mind
Don't you know you might find
A better place to play
You said that you've never been
But all the things that you've seen
They slowly fade away
So I'll start a revolution from my bed
'Cuz you said the brains I had went to my head
Step outside, summertime's in bloom
Stand up beside the fireplace
Take that look from off your face
You know we’re gonna sing our hearts out
So City can play, home and away
and we're climbing on high
So glad to say
we’ve got Sven not Wenger
I heard you say
Take me to the place where you go
Where nobody knows
Where nobody knows if it's night or day
Please don't put your life in the hands
Of a rock and roll band
Who'll throw it all away
I'm gonna start a revolution from my bed
'Cuz you said the brains I had went to my head
Step outside, 'cuz summertime's in bloom
Stand up beside the fireplace
Take that look from off your face
You know we’re gonna sing our hearts out
So City can play, home and away
and we're climbing on high
So glad to say
we’ve got Sven not Wenger
we’re glad to say
all together ………
So City can play, home and away
and we're climbing on high
So glad to say
we’ve got Sven not Wenger
I heard you say
So City can play, home and away
and we're climbing on high
So glad to say
we’ve got Sven not Wenger
we’ve got Sven not Wenger
we’re glad to say………
Mister Blue (21/12/2007 at 12:34)
However, I think most England players put in half hearted performances when they play & think even Capello will have a hard time getting the most out of them.
As for Sven at club level . . . well his record speaks for itself & so far I've been very happy with his style & decisions regarding City & would be happy if he stayed long term. I just hope he's not using us as a stepping stone & his committment to City is genuine . . . . only time will tell, but for now keep it up Sven.
CTID
Stan the ManC (21/12/2007 at 12:40)
Let's make sure it dosn't happen again. By the way, at long last we've got a team worth supporting, so how about giving it 100% support for the FULL 90 MINUTES and beyond.