Post by Salem6 on Dec 15, 2007 2:41:33 GMT
Fabio Capello has been confirmed as the new England manager after the details of his contract were finalised with the Football Association.
Capello will bring four Italian assistants with him
The Italian signed a four-and-a-half year deal - reportedly worth £6m a year, with an opt out after 2010.
Capello, 61, will be unveiled at a news conference at 1300 GMT on Monday before taking up the role on 7 January.
His backroom staff is all-Italian but he is to consider how to integrate an English presence into the set-up.
"Fabio is very, very open and happy to include an English coach - or English coaches - within his staff," said 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."
England Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce was among those seen arriving at the FA's headquarters in Soho Square, London, on Friday.
Alan Shearer, Tony Adams and David Platt have also been linked with a role in Capello's team.
The Italian's trusted aide Franco Baldini, his sporting director at Roma and Real Madrid, is included in the backroom staff along with veteran assistant coach Italo Galbiati, goalkeeping coach Franco Tancredi, and fitness coach Massimo Neri.
People should not get too hung up on the fact there is no English coach on the staff at the moment
FA spokesman Adrian Bevington
The FA revealed Capello was the number one choice and was the only man to be formally interviewed for the post, which became vacant when Steve McClaren was sacked on 22 November.
"Fabio is a winner. His record over the last two decades speaks for itself," said FA chief executive Brian Barwick.
"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's first game in charge will be the friendly against Switzerland at Wembley on 6 February.
With England failing to qualify for Euro 2008, his first competitive game will be a World Cup qualifier on 6 September.
His contract was finalised on Friday.
FABIO CAPELLO FACTFILE
1946: Born in San Canzian d'Isonzo, Gorizia, Italy
1964: Makes pro debut for Ferrara side SPAL
1973: Scores as Italy beat England at Wembley for first time
1991: Appointed head coach of AC Milan
1992: Wins first of four Italian league titles with Milan
1994: Milan beat Barcelona 4-0 in European Cup final
1997: Wins Spanish league with Real Madrid
2001: Guides Roma to their first Scudetto for 18 years
2004: Wins Scudetto in first season with Juventus
2007: Guides Real to La Liga during his second spell
The Italian met Barwick and Brooking, the FA's director of football, on Wednesday before his appointment was "ratified unanimously" by the FA board on Thursday.
"Fabio Capello is widely recognised as one of the world's finest coaches," said Brooking.
"He has achieved huge success wherever he has worked and has the respect of everyone in football."
McClaren, who spent just 18 months in charge, hopes Capello succeeds as England boss.
"It goes without saying that I wish my successor all the very best," McClaren said.
"I've always said and still maintain we have an excellent group of players. I'm convinced they'll do the country proud in due course.
"It was a great honour for me to mange England and I'm sure Fabio will share the same sentiments."
Capello expressed his interest in the England job just days after McClaren's departure in November, describing it as a "beautiful challenge".
He has a hugely impressive CV and comes with the backing of such football luminaries as Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, Gianfranco Zola and Clarence Seedorf.
The Italian has picked up silverware with all four clubs - AC Milan, Real Madrid, Roma and Juventus - he has been in charge of.
He has guided teams to nine league championships in 16 years as a coach, although Juventus were stripped of the 2005 and 2006 titles because of the club's involvement in a match-fixing scandal.
He also won the Champions League with Milan in 1994 and was an accomplished player, winning 32 caps for Italy.
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7137847.stm