FABIO CAPELLO will meet FA chiefs for talks in the next 48
hours. And the Italian will be told he can have the job if he shows
he is the right man to manage England. With Jose Mourinho
officially ruling himself out last night, the job is Capellos to
lose.
He is now the overwhelming favourite to replace the axed Steve
McClaren. Capello and son Pierfilippo, who is his advisor, will
meet FA chief executive Brian Barwick tomorrow or Thursday. If the
former Real Madrid chief impresses in the interview he can expect
to be unveiled as the new manager possibly as early as
Friday.
Capello wants the job and is flattered by FAs interest. He has no
intention of laying down any diva-like demands and will play it
Soho Squares way. Capello is keen to have ex-Chelsea star
Gianfranco Zola as an assistant. But Capello says he will happily
agree to FA demands to have some English involvement on his
coaching staff.
Under-21 boss Stuart Pearce and strike legend Alan Shearer are in
the running for a top role.
Capello has also indicated his personal terms will not be
excessive. The stumbling block is that he does not speak English
but he is willing to learn and the FA do not believe it is an
insurmountable problem. If the meeting with Capello does not go as
planned, which is unlikely, the FA will look towards another
Italian, Marcello Lippi, the 2006 World Cup winner.
Lippi has declared an interest and is willing to talk to the FA on
their terms. Both Martin ONeill and Jurgen Klinsmann remain on the
FA radar but the German could be heading for Liverpool if Rafa
Benitez is sacked.
The FAs plan to bring in an English assistant is seen as important
for two main reasons. Firstly, it would be crucial for
communicating with the players, fans and media as Capello learns
English. It would also give the FA a long-term English successor to
take over the reins when the next manager stands down.
Shearer and Pearce are the favourites but Ports-mouth assistant
Tony Adams is in the frame. Capello has won seven Serie A titles,
two La Liga championships with Real Madrid and the Champions League
with AC Milan. But Madrid chief Predrag Mijatovic has warned
England that Capello will struggle to adapt from club
football.
Mijatovic, who hired and fired Capello for Real last season, said:
For me, Capello is not an international boss. His ideal habitat
is at a club and if its a big club, so much the better. He needs a
battle every day.
