Post by CmonYouSpurs on Dec 12, 2007 8:08:46 GMT -1
Fabio Capello could be installed as the new England manager by the end of the week, BBC Sport understands.
The Italian, 61, is expected to fly in to London for formal talks with the Football Association on Wednesday - and a deal could be sealed within days.
The ex-Real Madrid, Juventus, AC Milan and Roma coach has already said he is keen to succeed Steve McClaren.
"There's been contact with Capello and there will be more," said Radio 5 Live football correspondent Jonathan Legard.
"If terms and conditions can be agreed today, away from the glare centred on the FA's headquarters in Soho Square, Capello could be announced (as England boss) little more than three weeks after England crashed out of Euro 2008."
Marcello Lippi, who steered Italy to success in the 2006 World Cup, is thought to be Capello's main rival for the job.
Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho had been the favourite to succeed McClaren, but he pulled out of the running after holding talks with FA chief executive Brian Barwick and director of football Sir Trevor Brooking.
As for former Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann and Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill, they look to have fallen down the pecking order.
Contact between the FA and Capello has so far been between intermediaries, the BBC understands, but that is all set to change.
Capello has won nine league titles in 16 years as a coach, picking up silverware with all four clubs he has taken charge of.
He won the Champions League with Milan in 1994 and was also an accomplished player, winning 32 caps as a midfielder for the national team.
Clarence Seedorf, who was part of the Real Madrid side that pipped Barcelona to the La Liga title under Capello in 1997, says his former manager is a proven winner and has a track record of getting the most out of his players.
"One of his major qualities is to get the best out of his players, to make sure everyone is committed to the team's goals," the 31-year-old told Radio 5 Live.
"He is very, very specific in what he wants and very clear what he wants from every player.
"Sometimes he really pushes you to the limits and that, of course, has proven effective.
"When the focus is on the training, then he really expects 100 per cent and not less.
"He would rather have less quality but committed players rather than quality players who are not committed.
"But he is also very experienced with great players and is able to get the best out of them.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes England could not choose a better-qualified coach but expressed concern about the Italian's grasp of English, which is said to be limited.
"Capello is a strong character," confirmed Wenger.
"He has a clear idea of what he wants. I believe as well he's a strong winner. The guy is convinced of the methods he uses. The quality of the candidate is outstanding.
"The only problem he could have, I don't know how good his English is. A big part of the job is to deal with the media.
"But the technical job, you don't have to worry about him."
Legard said Capello's potential language difficulties are not a major barrier to his appointment.
"While nothing has been taken for granted, Arsene Wenger's reservations over Capello's lack of English aren't shared within the FA, whose greater concern is for an English presence within his coaching staff," added Legard.
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is another big fan of Capello.
"To manage a national team you need to be a certain age with plenty of experience and with a presence and a CV that is indisputable and Capello has all of that," said the Scot.
Giancarlo Galavotti, London correspondent for Gazzetta dello Sport, believes that a deal between Capello and the FA could be struck by the end of the week.
"Of course they have not yet sat together to discuss all the details but it appears that, barring anything absolutely dramatic, I would say that possibly by the end of the week everything will be sealed, " he said.
"If England go for a foreign coach there is hardly anyone better than him.
I would say that his credentials are incredible. If the class of Fabio Capello fails then it is very worrying for the England national team
Italian journalist Giancarlo Galavotti
"I would say he is more of a Sir Alex Ferguson sort of character. He is very much his own man, very much wants to win and if winning means to set aside players or even staff who have been with him for many years he will do that because he has got only one aim and that is to win.
"I would say that his credentials are incredible. If the class of Fabio Capello fails then it is very worrying for the England national team."
Capello was sacked by Real in June, despite guiding them to La Liga crown and since then, he has been working as a commentator for Italian television company RAI.
According to BBC sources, RAI have already begun the search for his replacement, seemingly convinced he is about to be given the England job.
Former Chelsea star Gianfranco Zola has voiced his support for Capello, saying he "possesses the ideal pedigree to create a new era of success for England".
He added: "Even when Jose Mourinho was in the running I believed that Capello had even more charisma, talent and experience for a challenging job like this one
The Italian, 61, is expected to fly in to London for formal talks with the Football Association on Wednesday - and a deal could be sealed within days.
The ex-Real Madrid, Juventus, AC Milan and Roma coach has already said he is keen to succeed Steve McClaren.
"There's been contact with Capello and there will be more," said Radio 5 Live football correspondent Jonathan Legard.
"If terms and conditions can be agreed today, away from the glare centred on the FA's headquarters in Soho Square, Capello could be announced (as England boss) little more than three weeks after England crashed out of Euro 2008."
Marcello Lippi, who steered Italy to success in the 2006 World Cup, is thought to be Capello's main rival for the job.
Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho had been the favourite to succeed McClaren, but he pulled out of the running after holding talks with FA chief executive Brian Barwick and director of football Sir Trevor Brooking.
As for former Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann and Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill, they look to have fallen down the pecking order.
Contact between the FA and Capello has so far been between intermediaries, the BBC understands, but that is all set to change.
Capello has won nine league titles in 16 years as a coach, picking up silverware with all four clubs he has taken charge of.
He won the Champions League with Milan in 1994 and was also an accomplished player, winning 32 caps as a midfielder for the national team.
Clarence Seedorf, who was part of the Real Madrid side that pipped Barcelona to the La Liga title under Capello in 1997, says his former manager is a proven winner and has a track record of getting the most out of his players.
"One of his major qualities is to get the best out of his players, to make sure everyone is committed to the team's goals," the 31-year-old told Radio 5 Live.
"He is very, very specific in what he wants and very clear what he wants from every player.
"Sometimes he really pushes you to the limits and that, of course, has proven effective.
"When the focus is on the training, then he really expects 100 per cent and not less.
"He would rather have less quality but committed players rather than quality players who are not committed.
"But he is also very experienced with great players and is able to get the best out of them.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes England could not choose a better-qualified coach but expressed concern about the Italian's grasp of English, which is said to be limited.
"Capello is a strong character," confirmed Wenger.
"He has a clear idea of what he wants. I believe as well he's a strong winner. The guy is convinced of the methods he uses. The quality of the candidate is outstanding.
"The only problem he could have, I don't know how good his English is. A big part of the job is to deal with the media.
"But the technical job, you don't have to worry about him."
Legard said Capello's potential language difficulties are not a major barrier to his appointment.
"While nothing has been taken for granted, Arsene Wenger's reservations over Capello's lack of English aren't shared within the FA, whose greater concern is for an English presence within his coaching staff," added Legard.
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is another big fan of Capello.
"To manage a national team you need to be a certain age with plenty of experience and with a presence and a CV that is indisputable and Capello has all of that," said the Scot.
Giancarlo Galavotti, London correspondent for Gazzetta dello Sport, believes that a deal between Capello and the FA could be struck by the end of the week.
"Of course they have not yet sat together to discuss all the details but it appears that, barring anything absolutely dramatic, I would say that possibly by the end of the week everything will be sealed, " he said.
"If England go for a foreign coach there is hardly anyone better than him.
I would say that his credentials are incredible. If the class of Fabio Capello fails then it is very worrying for the England national team
Italian journalist Giancarlo Galavotti
"I would say he is more of a Sir Alex Ferguson sort of character. He is very much his own man, very much wants to win and if winning means to set aside players or even staff who have been with him for many years he will do that because he has got only one aim and that is to win.
"I would say that his credentials are incredible. If the class of Fabio Capello fails then it is very worrying for the England national team."
Capello was sacked by Real in June, despite guiding them to La Liga crown and since then, he has been working as a commentator for Italian television company RAI.
According to BBC sources, RAI have already begun the search for his replacement, seemingly convinced he is about to be given the England job.
Former Chelsea star Gianfranco Zola has voiced his support for Capello, saying he "possesses the ideal pedigree to create a new era of success for England".
He added: "Even when Jose Mourinho was in the running I believed that Capello had even more charisma, talent and experience for a challenging job like this one