Guardian Reports Capello to be Named New England Manager

[G dot Ozo]

Fabio Capello's appointment as England's coach is expected to be confirmed today, after face-to-face talks with the Football Association chief executive, Brian Barwick, yesterday concluded with the Italian agreeing in principle to succeed Steve McClaren.

The former Milan coach has not formally been offered the post but, subject to approval from the FA board and final negotiations between the FA and his advisers, his appointment appears a formality. He returned to Italy last night to fulfil a prior commitment having arrived earlier in the day for three hours of talks at Wembley with Barwick and the FA's director of football, Trevor Brooking, which left both parties in little doubt that a formal agreement can be reached rapidly.

Should prove to be a good appointment, although I'm a bit wary of the fact he plans to bring in an all Italian staff. Discuss.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

It's not a bad choice but we shall see.

[cognito20]

If we weren't going to get Mourinho, this was the guy we needed to get. Either one of them would have been a great choice. I think the Special One would have been a (very) slightly better choice (if he'd wanted the job) because of his prior experience with the English players and, just as importantly, media, but from a footballing standpoint Capello is probably even slightly _more_ qualified than Jose. The man's trophy case is extremely impressive, and it isn't like he got those trophies from winning the Latvian league.

It's not going to be the coaching that lets England down anymore. They've got a world-class manager in charge for the first time in recent memory, and he's being given 9 full months to prepare for the start of WC qualification. Now it's up to the players. If Capello has the effect I think he's going to have on the English national team, then Croatia had better enjoy Euro 2008 while it lasts, because they're going to have a teeny-bit tougher go of things next time around.

As far as Capello's style being "conservative" or "boring", who the hell cares? I've got two other adjectives that are far more important that also describe his style: "effective" and "winning". We don't need to play attractive football, we need to play winning football. And we will do just that under a manager the calibre of Fabio Capello.

[sinner78]

Big upgrade.
Go from mcClown to Capello. Thats like driving a skoda and then upgrading to a porsche.

[Mikey10]

lol, true true. McClown is the worst England manager of all time.

[sinner78]

lol, true true. McClown is the worst England manager of all time.

I didnt think graham taylor could be beaten for the "worst ever" title.
Damn was i wrong about that.

[Mikey10]

Agreed. McClown also had better players at his disposal as well, and having an easier group.

[Riggins56]

Agreed. McClown also had better players at his disposal as well, and having an easier group.

Your right Mclown was and is a waste of space.
Now you watch Cappelo bring back our world class status and he won't take no sh:pt doing it.

[Riggins56]

Should prove to be a good appointment, although I'm a bit wary of the fact he plans to bring in an all Italian staff. Discuss.

We don't actually know what he's going to do yet or who he's going to bring in. Lets just hope he does a better job than the last idiot.

[Prenn]

The worst thing about McClown is that we all knew he'd be a poor manager. We all knew we wouldn't qualify for Euro2008 with him in charge.

[Riggins56]

The worst thing about McClown is that we all knew he'd be a poor manager. We all knew we wouldn't qualify for Euro2008 with him in charge.

Yea and Brian Barwick and his cronies still haven't resigned.
Still signing Coppelo they might redeem themselves!!

[polak metro]

does Copelo speak any english. this guy has no national team expierience like mc clown.

[DIECI]

We don't actually know what he's going to do yet or who he's going to bring in. Lets just hope he does a better job than the last idiot.

Great choice by the FA to get Capello. This guy is a mans coach, he really knows how to win. His track record proves it. 3 years at Juve= 3 consecutive scudettos, he goes to Real and he wins the Spanish league. This guy wont put up with any BS, he will get the best out of your players and results you guys need to be successful. He will win ugly if need be but he knows how to win. I was hoping for him to be the successor to Donanoni in Italy if he failed but I guess he didnt want to wait for the Italy job to become available. I see England emerging as a superpower by the 2010 WC.

[Mikey10]

The worst thing about McClown is that we all knew he'd be a poor manager. We all knew we wouldn't qualify for Euro2008 with him in charge.

As soon as he was appointed, my confidence in qualifying dropped down to zero. The guy had to be the most unpopular choice of all time.

[three lions]

What a beautiful day indeed!! Tremendous upgrade.. One of the cream of the crops in managers..

[sendorange]

It's the right move. Maybe even better than Jose as I can see a younger and less patient man like Jose getting bored with the lack of games at international level.

We've got some real quality coming through at U-21 level and still a lot of good players in the squad, so hopefully we will see him bring the tactical composure and discipline we need.

[three lions]

Yeah, and 4 and a half years is a good amount of time as well..

[Milliano]

As Seedorf suggested, this early appointment, well before WC qualifiers, is a bonus to Capello improving his English.

[cognito20]

does Copelo speak any english. this guy has no national team expierience like mc clown.

And unlike McClaren, he has 7 Scudetti, 2 La Liga titles, 4 Italian Cups, and a Champions League. Although he has not emulated the enviable McClaren achievement of being wiped out in a UEFA Cup Final as of yet. Capello has won more trophies than McClaren has ever laid eyes on.

We'll take our chances with Capello, thanks. ;)

[ToonUSA]

So anyone told Capello that his defensive masterpieces won't work with Robinson between the pipes?