Former boss Eriksson bowed out after last summer's World Cup in Germany where England, among the pre-tournament favourites, spectacularly underperformed before defeat by Portugal in the quarter-finals.

But the Swede, who remains in the market for a new job, has never doubted his ability as a manager and believes he still has the support of his former public.

"I have always been able to do this job," he told Sunday Times Magazine.

"Before England, I had never been sacked in my life. I don't sit here pining about it, but I loved being a manager and I am still young enough to do the job.

"For the first few nights back in Sweden, I couldn't sleep and couldn't really stop thinking about what had happened. It wasn't like I was in a depression but it was a recurring thought.

"I couldn't talk about the World Cup and haven't spoken about it until now. We should have done better, I am absolutely convinced of that."

He added: "I've never heard a bad word during six years of travelling around the country. Everyone has always been polite to me. Not even after the defeat to Portugal.

"If I land at Heathrow today people still want my autograph, which is nice, and a lot of them say 'Sven, you did a good job'."