Manchester City set for second UEFA Cup campaign in 31 years after England finish top of Fair Play league

• Premier League's Fair Play rankings

City last gained entry to the UEFA Cup in 2003, also via the Fair Play league, but the team who was then managed by Kevin Keegan went out in the second round on away goals.

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The news represents an unexpected bonus for the club's ambitious Thai owner, Thaksin Shinawatra, who recently told manager Sven Goran Eriksson that he would be sacked at the end of the current season, with Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari seen as Thaksin's choice to replace him.

After UEFA revealed that English teams had topped their Fair Play competition, the FA confirmed that the berth will be awarded to the highest-ranked side in the Premier League Fair Play table who have not qualified for Europe by other means.

City currently stand fifth in the Fair Play table, behind Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool - who are all already guaranteed a place in continental competition.

That means Sven-Goran Eriksson's team, with only a single league game remaining, stand on the brink of an unexpected European qualification.

Eriksson could be heading for Portugal and a third spell at Benfica by the time City's participation in Europe is confirmed.

Benfica spokesman Ricardo Maia said: "More details about our future coach will be announced next week, when the Portuguese and Premier League finish.

"At the moment our coach vacancy has been centred on Eriksson and we will not reveal other names."

A UEFA Cup spot would be as good as it gets for City at the moment, according to Eriksson.

He believes the big four are out of reach and said: "In our case it is not realistic we should qualify for the Champions League.

"We are good but not that good. We do not have a squad up to the standard of Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester United.

"Everyone who knows a little bit about football will agree to that.

"If you are being realistic I think where we are is where we deserve to be after one year."

Eriksson scoffed at suggestions he was disillusioned with football because of the confusion at City.

He said: "Football is great and life is great. The reason I accepted this job was that this is a big Premier League club.

"I like the club, I like the players we have, I like the project. But that's it.

"The players are working hard as we want to finish with a good game against Middlesbrough."