Former England boss Sven Goran Eriksson has applied for the vacant manager’s job at Leeds United, according to the Championship club’s chairman Ken Bates.

Eriksson, 64, has been out of work since being sacked by Leicester City at the end of October and is believed to be keen on making a swift return to management.

The Swede, who has managed a wealth of teams during a colourful life in coaching including Abu Dhabi-owned Manchester City, has also been frequently linked with a number of jobs in the UAE, namedly Al Ahli, down the years.

Leeds, on the lookout for a new boss following Simon Grayson’s dismissal last month, has obviously caught Eriksson’s fancy given their tag as a ‘sleeping giant’, although his chances of landing the post look slim.

“We’ve had an application from Sven Eriksson. Don’t worry girls you’ll have to be disappointed. He isn’t coming,” Bates told Yorkshire Radio.

Raddy Ancic, 63, is another high-profile name linked with the vacancy at Elland Road. The Serb, best known for managing both Real Madrid and Barcelona (one of only two men to do so), guided Atletico Madrid to a league and cup double in 1995-96 and Serbia to the World Cup in 2010.