Hire me or I quit, says Mancini

Roberto Mancini has warned Lazio president Sergio Cragnotti that he will quit the Rome club if he is not given the opportunity to replace Sven-Goran Eriksson as manager.

Mancini is Eriksson's assistant and one of the outside candidates to succeed the Swede when he leaves to take charge of England in the summer.

But with Marcello Lippi being touted as the man most likely to assume the Lazio hotseat, Mancini has raised the stakes by giving his boss an ultimatum.

"If I was president Cragnotti, I would appoint myself (Mancini) as Eriksson's replacement," he said. "If he doesn't, I will leave Lazio as I do not want to be the assistant coach any longer."

Mancini's words are being seen as a farewell to the club where he has enjoyed three successful years. In his last season at Lazio as a player he was inspirational in guiding the Eagles to their celebrated double – and immediately appointed Eriksson's No 2.

But now Mancini realises that whoever becomes the new boss is likely to bring in his own staff – and that would spell the end for him.

"I am not the right person to talk about my future," he added. "Of course I am going to say that if I were the president I would appoint Mancini.

"I do not know who Eriksson's successor will be, but it is obvious that whoever comes will bring in his own assistant."

The former Italy international denied any rift, though, with Cragnotti, who gave him his break in management. "The Cragnotti family have been extraordinary with me," he said.

"They offered me a place as a coach, but I did not see myself doing it at the time. I preferred to join the technical staff. I want to coach from next year and not be an assistant. I think that I have had a long enough run as No 2."

Mancini also ruled out the possibility of following Eriksson to England to continue his apprenticeship on the international stage.

"I do not think I would accept that offer as my dream has always been to coach a club," he said. "I think that it is fundamental to work everyday. I am young and full of enthusiasm and I think that you must take some risks."

Whatever happens, Mancini intends to stay on at Lazio until June 2001. He also denied that any approaches had been made for him to play or coach elsewhere.