OFFICIAL: England appoint Capello

[D-Kin]

Capello’s seven-year wait Wednesday 12 December, 2007

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Prospective new England boss Fabio Capello has wanted the high-pressure job since 2000, it has been revealed.

Franco Baldini, Capello’s former sporting director at both Roma and Real Madrid, has claimed that the tactician has had his eyes on the role ever since he was first contacted by the FA at the start of the millennium.

“Fabio has been thinking about England and the fascinating possibilities ever since the FA appointed Sven Goran Eriksson six years ago,” Baldini told the Daily Express.

“He was in contact with the FA in 2000 when they thought of him then, but it was not the right time.

“Fabio thinks about England as the mother of the game and the teacher of football and I am sure he would like to be England manager.

“He has worked with big players throughout his career and he’s always been a winner wherever he has gone.”

Capello is understood to have flown into London today with his son to open talks with Soho Square officials after Jose Mourinho rejected the job earlier this week.

The former Milan and Juventus boss will be charged with turning around England’s fortunes after their nosedive under Steve McClaren and he’s being tipped to succeed.

“With Capello you can start dreaming of winning something again,” 1982 World Cup winner Dino Zoff told the Sun.

"He’ll give you the best chance you have had for ages, a better chance than Sven Goran Eriksson did. Capello is more practical when it comes to winning.

“If any England player fails to show enough guts with Capello as manager, he will just find another player straight away.

“Capello will carry on getting the very best out of players, as he has always done with all types, world stars and prima donnas or less gifted individuals.

“Capello has shown enough flair to win wherever he has been and he inspires quicker than any other manager.

“He would be a great acquisition for England. In fact, he is one of the very few who could do the job successfully. He is one of the best in the world.”

channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

Capello's England talks "positive" Wednesday 12 December, 2007

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Fabio Capello flew in to London today for a meeting with the FA that was described as “extremely positive and without any problems.”

It is reported the former Juventus, Roma, Milan and Real Madrid boss met with FA chief executive Brian Barwick and director of development Sir Trevor Brooking at Wembley Stadium.

“Understandably further talks are now taking place between Fabio’s advisors and ourselves,” confirmed FA director of communications Adrian Bevington.

“Fabio has returned to Italy to honour a prior commitment.”

The Italian Coach arrived at Heathrow for negotiations to replace Steve McClaren as England manager and is now the over-riding favourite to take over.

Jose Mourinho and Martin O’Neill have ruled themselves out of the running, while Azzurri World Cup winner Marcello Lippi is keeping his options open.

Capello was accompanied on this visit by advisor Giovanni Branchini and his agent – and son – Pierfilippo Capello.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Jager]

Its a done deal, he will coach them from what I hear.

Strange to see him behind the bench, however I think he is still an ass.

He didn't want to coach Italy because of pressure, but yet he'll coach England??


Like hello, there will be more PRESSURE THERE.

[D-Kin]

Capello set for England Thursday 13 December, 2007

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Fabio Capello has all but been confirmed as the new manager of England after today’s talks with the FA ended successfully.

The former Juventus and Real Madrid boss will sign a four-and-a-half year contract and will earn £4m per year.

“The board has approved his appointment as manager subject to further contract negotiations,” an FA spokesman revealed.

“These talks will continue, but there are no problems and we are close to a successful conclusion.”

BBC sources suggest that Capello will be given the chance to sign until 2010 and then have the option to extend after the World Cup.

Franco Baldini is expected to serve as Capello’s assistant as long as the FA raise no objection to his being given the role.

“I understand the FA has, in principle, said ‘yes’ to me doing this job,” Baldini explained. “If I don’t, I think Capello will still be England Coach, but maybe he will be a little less comfortable.”

Since ex-Chelsea tactician Jose Mourinho pulled out of the running, Capello has become strong favourite for the job.

The 61-year-old is currently in Milan where he is thought to be completing the formalities before he can accept the England post.

Capello’s appointment could be announced before the end of the week.

channel4.com - Football Italia

It's looking more and more likely by the day.

[Jager]

The offer is reportedly in the 6.5 million range....almost too much really. FA is rich and desperate as you can see.

[cerebral_assassin]

Originally Posted by Jager

Its a done deal, he will coach them from what I hear.

Strange to see him behind the bench, however I think he is still an ass.

He didn't want to coach Italy because of pressure, but yet he'll coach England??


Like hello, there will be more PRESSURE THERE.

I think he wants a greater challenge, cas realistically, he could win the euro's with italy easily..... but getting and winning the wc with england would make him a national icon 100x more.

[Aladino]

Franco Baldini will also join Capello with the job... well it is mor elikely that he will. Not confirmed yet!

[D-Kin]

Lippi hails Capello credentials Friday 14 December, 2007

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World Cup winning Coach Marcello Lippi applauds the decision to appoint Fabio Capello as England manager, but Raymond Domenech doesn’t agree.

Lippi had been in the frame for the post, but he was always an unlikely candidate given his reluctance to work outside of the peninsula.

Capello could be officially announced as the new England Coach within the next few hours and Lippi thinks the FA have made the right decision.

“Capello is the best choice for England,” he stated. “For ability and experience he is the best man for the job.

“You only have to see what he has won in his career to understand that it’s a role that suits him down to the ground.”

However, there are some dissenting voices across Europe and ever controversial France Coach Raymond Domenech would have preferred to see an Englishman get the nod.

“The FA’s choice to appoint Capello is a serious statement,” the former Monaco man told RTL.

“I think that the fact they have to look abroad for a Coach, as they did with Sven Goran Eriksson, isn’t a positive sign.

“England need a boss with the same mentality as the players.

“I hold Capello in high regard and I’m not saying these things because he is Italian.

“I’m saying it for the good of English Coaches who must be offended by the choice of a foreigner.”

channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

England appoint Capello Friday 14 December, 2007

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Fabio Capello is officially the new England manager after signing a four-and-a-half year deal this afternoon.

The appointment was finalised today after Capello agreed terms following extensive talks in London.

It is believed that he will earn £6m per year, with an opt out clause set for 2010. The ex-Juve boss begins work on January 7 and will be presented to the media on Monday.

Capello will bring his backroom staff of Franco Baldini, Italo Galbiati, Franco Tancredi and Massimo Neri.

After former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho ruled himself out of the post, Capello became the strong favourite to take the post.

The 61-year-old has been working as a pundit for Italian State TV channel RAI since his dismissal from Real Madrid at the end of last season.

He had delivered the La Liga title, but fell out with the club’s owners and sections of the supporters due to his pragmatic brand of football.

channel4.com - Football Italia

Well done to England, they've finally got a decent manager.

[D-Kin]

Tancredi's England 'keeper quest Friday 14 December, 2007

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England’s new goalkeeping Coach Franco Tancredi admits his job will be “difficult” to find a decent Three Lions shot-stopper.

Tancredi was brought in as part of Fabio Capello’s staff along with fellow Italians Franco Baldini, Italo Galbiati and Massimo Neri.

“I am incredibly happy,” explained the former Roma goalkeeper. “It will be a very difficult but fascinating adventure.

“In England there are real problems with the goalkeeper’s role and the big clubs all have foreigners, sometimes in the reserves as well.”

Howlers have been costly during the failed Euro 2008 qualifying campaign and one of Capello’s first jobs will be to find a reliable first choice ‘keeper.

Tancredi has some experience of English football, although not one that makes him happy, as he played for Roma in their European Cup Final defeat on penalties to Liverpool.

“If and when I see Alan Hansen, Bruce Grobelaar and Graham Souness again, I’ll tell them that is the only match of my career I’d like to replay.”

channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

Domenech condemns Cap choice Friday 14 December, 2007

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While Italian colleagues have praised Fabio Capello’s appointment to the England job, France boss Raymond Domenech is stirring up controversy again.

Capello was today officially confirmed as the new England Coach by the Football Association, becoming the second foreigner to take the role after Sven Goran Eriksson.

“If he will be able to win something with England then he’ll become another Italian abroad who has had great success,” noted former Azzurri legend Gianni Rivera.

“I just hope he doesn’t achieve that by beating Italy…”

Capello has named an all-Italian staff consisting of Franco Tancredi, Franco Baldini, Italo Galbiati and Massimo Neri.

"Fabio is very, very open and happy to include an English Coach - or English Coaches - within his staff," assured FA director of communications Adrian Bevington.

"The key point is that that is something we don't have to rush into. People should not get too hung up on the fact there is no English Coach on the staff at the moment."

The appeal was not heard by France boss Domenech, who has stirred up further controversy with his neighbours over the Alps.

“I think it is damaging for English managers that they have gone to look for a foreign Coach, be him Swedish like Eriksson or Italian like Capello,” said the tactician.

“The ones who know the players and mentality better than anyone are the English. It’s like saying the English Coaches aren’t capable of taking this role.”

Domenech has hit headlines for over a year with his constant criticism of Italian football, even earning a touchline ban for unsubstantiated allegations about match-fixing in an Under-21 encounter.

The response in Italy to Capello’s appointment has been very positive and it is considered an honour for the English to put their national team in Don Fabio’s hands.

"With Capello you can start dreaming of winning something again. He'll give you the best chance you have had for ages, a better chance than Eriksson did," added former Azzurri boss Dino Zoff, who took his team to the Euro 2000 Final.

"Capello is ideal for this job. If England are capable of winning something, I truly believe Capello is the man who will bring it out in them,” agreed another ex-Italy Coach, Arrigo Sacchi.

"I think he can win the World Cup with England and make them into a team feared and respected throughout the world. He is one of the best,” noted current Juventus Coach Claudio Ranieri.

The FA has also rejected accusations that Capello was not the first choice, having held talks with Martin O’Neill, Jose Mourinho and reportedly 2006 World Cup winner Marcello Lippi.

"When we set out to recruit the new manager, we said we were committed to appointing a world-class candidate. In Fabio Capello we have that man,” said Chief Executive Brian Barwick.

"Fabio is a winner. His record over the last two decades speaks for itself. At every club he has managed, Fabio has won the league title and Sir Trevor Brooking and I were left in no doubt of his passion and commitment to bring that success to the England team."

Capello will make his debut on the England bench in a friendly with Switzerland at Wembley on February 6, but his first competitive game is set to be the World Cup qualifier on September 6.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

Capello fears England nightmare Saturday 15 December, 2007

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Fabio Capello has told Italian television that taking the England job could be “the crowning moment of my career,” but fears “a rude awakening.”

He put pen to paper on a contract with the FA yesterday evening and spoke exclusively with RAI Due show ‘Dribbling.’

“It is an exciting adventure, certainly a difficult one with many obstacles to overcome, but I have always liked a challenge,” said the Coach.

“Now I will try something different. It is a dream that I had been close to a few years ago, but now it has finally been realised. Like all dreams, I hope it doesn’t end with a rude awakening.”

Capello has won every major trophy with Milan, Real Madrid, Roma and Juventus, but takes the step up to international management in a new country.

“There is a very different way of working in a country where football is a religion. Everyone asks themselves why the England team cannot win, while their club sides get such great results.

“It will be different from the past because I will not be able to work on a daily level and that gives you another rapport with the lads. One must do well to create a group in a short period of time. It has been too long since England have won and that creates an even tougher task for me.”

He had said the Three Lions needed “a psychologist” more than a Coach and reiterates the failure to qualify for Euro 2008 can be blamed on their mentality.

“I am convinced the psychological issue is important. I get the feeling that some players feel blocked when they take to the field with their national shirt.”

Now 61 years old, Capello can consider this another prestigious step in his long career and has high hopes for silverware.

“Challenges are part of our profession. I certainly want to do well and we will be among Italy’s opponents in the future.”

He has brought in an all-Italian team of technical director Franco Baldini, assistant Italo Galbiati, fitness Coach Massimo Neri and goalkeeping Coach Franco Tancredi.

“I hope, with my staff, to achieve the crowning moment of my career, a marvellous and difficult objective. It would be wonderful to end on a high.”

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Football Fetish]

I heard someone on Sky Sports mention that, because of the language barrier, the English press may show some leniency with him. I'm not buying it. He's going to be hounded more than he will ever imagine. The Real Madrid job will be like a vacation compared to this gig.

[D-Kin]

He won't be fazed, Capello knows how to deal with the media.