Dubai: Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has assured Al Nasr coach Walter Zenga that he has nothing to fear after joining the Oud Mehta club as a technical advisor on Monday.

Usually the role of such an experienced manager sitting above a comparatively junior coach would cause friction. But the 64-year-old Swede, who rose to fame as manager of Benfica, Lazio and England, has made it clear from the start of his 18-month contract that he isn’t after the 52-year-old former Italy goalkeeper’s job.

Asked if his presence at the club might put undue pressure on Zenga, Eriksson said: “Yes. But just before we went onto the pitch [before training], I told Zenga and all the coaching staff that I was not here to be coach.

“I’m here as an advisor and I’ve made that very clear to the players, Zenga and all his staff. It shouldn’t put any pressure on him because that wouldn’t be right at all.”

Having managed Zenga at Sampdoria for two seasons in the mid-nineties, Eriksson said their previous working relationship would help: “It helps that I know him from before. He’s a good guy and [was] a good keeper. He’s the same today and now he’s a famous coach.”

When asked if he was finished with coaching, Eriksson, who will oversee the running of all aspects of the club, replied: “For the moment, yes, but who knows what will happen when this contract is over? I’m at a certain age where I don’t know if anyone will want me. But I still feel young and I am still in love with football, that hasn’t changed.”

Having joined after a brief two-month contract in Thailand advising Tero Sansana last September, Eriksson, who has had brief and nomadic tenures since leaving England in 2006, managing Mexico, Notts County, the Ivory Coast and Leicester, said: “I’m not here for money but a love of football.

“If I said I was a specialist of UAE football, I’d be lying. I’m not, of course. But I have seen some tapes and if you ask me in a couple months, I will know much more.

“Wherever you go, football is football. If you want to improve, you can’t only look at your own country. I’m not afraid of not knowing.”