Leaving the building: Fabio Capello departs Wembley
Stadium following his dramatic meeting with the FA
Fabio Capello resigned as England manager after an
explosive meeting in the FA chairman’s office, leaving the way
clear for Harry Redknapp to succeed him.
On one of the most extraordinary days in the history of
English football, Redknapp was cleared of all tax evasion charges
at Southwark Crown Court just hours before the Italian walked into
showdown talks with David Bernstein at Wembley.
Bernstein was furious with Capello for an outburst on
Italian television in which he criticised the FA’s decision to
strip John Terry of the captaincy.
Capello was stunned by accusations of a gross breach of
protocol when he met Bernstein and FA general secretary Alex Horne
and he was in no mood to back down. Instead the manager, angered
that he was not consulted over last week’s decision to take the
armband off Terry, has walked out with immediate effect, along with
his coaching staff.
Wayne Rooney took to Twitter to lead the call for
Redknapp. ‘Gutted Capello has quit,’ he posted. ‘Good guy and top
coach. Got to be english to replace him. Harry Redknapp for
me.’
Tottenham are planning to fight an approach for their
manager. His contract at White Hart Lane has 15 months to run but
chairman Daniel Levy is already considering a new offer which he
hopes will persuade the 64-year-old to stay with a side pushing for
the Barclays Premier League title and close to Champions League
qualification.
The fact Capello has quit means any compensation,
something the FA would not discuss on Wednesday, would be
minimal.
The FA will announce their plans at a noon press
conference at Wembley on Wednesday. They will reveal who will take
charge of the national team for the friendly against Holland later
this month, with the expectation being that they will turn to Under
21 manager Stuart Pearce and director of football development and
Club England board member Sir Trevor Brooking.
Standing by his man: Capello appointed John Terry as
England captain twice during his ill-fated reign
But in the longer term it seems inevitable that England
will turn to Redknapp, who is already known to have
widespread support among the players.
On Wednesday night the Spurs manager was at home with his
wife Sandra, exhausted after a harrowing 13-day court
ordeal.
One sticking point could be his salary, given that the FA
are keen to see that their next manager earns considerably less
than Capello’s £6million a year.
But the clamour for Redknapp will be huge and the FA will
try to play on the fact that no English manager would turn down an
offer to take charge of the national side.
Martin O’Neill, who was interviewed for the job in 2006,
ruled himself out and backed his Spurs counterpart. The Sunderland
boss said: ‘If there is anyone to succeed Fabio Capello, Harry
Redknapp has earned that right and he will be the next England
manager.
‘It is terribly disappointing. Fabio Capello has earned
the right — having taken the team to the Euros — to go the whole
distance and it is really disappointing. He is not only a fantastic
manager but earned that opportunity and if it is because of the
John Terry incident that is very, very sad indeed.’
Capello arrived at Wembley at around 11am on Wednesday and
was in the offices for six hours. He was entirely without allies,
having alienated Bernstein, previously a supporter, with his
comments on Italian TV.
Favourite: Harry Redknapp is expected to be named as
Capello's successor
Bernstein has led from the front since Terry’s trial for
allegedly racially abusing Anton Ferdinand was adjourned until
after the European Championship, and he had a mandate from the FA
board to take personal charge of the talks.
The FA directors had no intention of backing down after
taking the moral lead on the Terry situation. They considered it
inappropriate for the defender to captain the England team when he
was facing such a serious charge — one he denies — and it was
Capello’s failure to recognise the sensitivity of the issue that
has ultimately led to his downfall.
After the meeting Capello cleared his desk, leaving
Bernstein to ring the rest of the board to explain that the
breakdown in trust was irretrievable. It is understood he received
their support.
In a statement, the FA said: ‘The Football Association can
confirm that Fabio Capello has today resigned as England
manager.
Meeting: David Bernstein (left) and Capello clashed at
Wembley
'This follows a meeting involving FA chairman David
Bernstein, FA general secretary Alex Horne and Fabio Capello at
Wembley Stadium.
‘The discussions focused on the FA board’s decision to
remove the England team captaincy from John Terry, and Fabio
Capello’s response through an Italian broadcast interview. In a
meeting for over an hour, Fabio’s resignation was accepted and he
will leave the post of England manager with immediate
effect.’
Bernstein said: ‘I would like to stress that during
today’s meeting and throughout his time as England manager, Fabio
has conducted himself in an extremely professional manner. We have
accepted Fabio’s resignation, agreeing this is the right decision.
We would like to thank Fabio for his work with the England team and
wish him every success in the future.’
Capello told an Italian news agency: ‘I leave England and
I will not say anything else.’
Disastrous: Capello winces while watching Germany
dismantl England at the 2010 World Cup
Capello’s son Pierfilippo said: ‘I have spoken with dad
and he is fine. For the time being we are not going to say anything
because that is the agreement we have with the FA. We shall see how
things go and then maybe we will speak. It is too early to say what
he will do.’
The game’s leading figures were stunned. Manchester United
and England defender Rio Ferdinand, who earlier revealed he was not
interested in taking over the captaincy from Terry, tweeting: ‘So
Capello resigns . . . what now . . . ’
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere said on Twitter: ‘Shocked
about news on Fabio Capello . . . gutted to be honest, gave me my
1st cap and believed in me! Thank you Mr Capello!
#GreatManager.’
