Capello set to earn £6.5m a year

Published on Thursday 13 December 2007 21:48

FABIO Capello is set to sign a contract worth an astonishing £6.5million a year after his appointment as England's new manager was approved by the Football Association board yesterday.

Final discussions on the details of Capello's contract will take place today, but sources close to the FA board say they have approved a deal worth 4million annually – after tax. That will place Capello's earnings on a par with England captain John Terry's 130,000-a-week, and shows the FA is willing to spend big to secure the 'world-class' coach it has been looking for.

By contrast, Sven-Goran Eriksson was on a deal worth 4million a year and Steve McClaren on 2.5million – but the failure to qualify for Euro 2008 cost the FA at least 12million and probably considerably more in terms of damage to the England brand.

It is understood Capello wants to bring three or four fellows Italians with him for his coaching staff, including his trusted aide Franco Baldini as his assistant. The 61-year-old has also expressed a desire to have English coaches as part of his set-up as well, and will decide who these should be at a later date. Contrary to some reports however, Baldini will not fulfil the role of the FA's technical director.

FA executives spent the day in talks with Capello's advisors going through the details of the contract, and those will continue today but the deal is all but done. FA director of communications Adrian Bevington said: "Discussions have continued throughout the day between the FA and Fabio Capello's advisors. The FA board has also today approved Capello's appointment as England manager subject to the successful conclusion of these contract negotiations.

"These will continue tomorrow. I want to stress that there are no problems and that we are going through the necessary process to reach a successful conclusion."

The FA board approved the appointment through a conference call, although at least one member felt the decision could have waited until next week's full board meeting on 19 December, given the size of the contract.

FA chief executive Brian Barwick is keen to get the deal sewn up, however, and sees little to gain from delaying the decision. Barwick is also comfortable with Capello's plans for his coaching staff, especially since the Italian himself proposed having English coaches as part of his set-up. There will not be an immediate announcement of who these might be – candidates suggested have included Stuart Pearce and Alan Shearer – as it will be Capello who chooses them.

Baldini, who has worked with Capello at his former clubs Real Madrid, AC Milan and Juventus, told the BBC: "Capello will be England coach for sure. I understand the FA has, in principle, said 'yes' to me doing this job as well. If I do not, I think Capello will still be England coach, but maybe he will be a little less comfortable."

Capello described the England job as a "beautiful challenge" following McClaren's departure in November, and has been given the backing of a number of senior figures in football.

Eriksson believes the FA "cannot go wrong" with Capello. He said: "I have known Fabio Capello for many years. I was his opponent in Serie A for ten years. He is a very good man and manager. When you talk about that level (international] and mention Mourinho, Lippi, Capello, Ferguson and Wenger you cannot go wrong. Capello will treat the players right. If you are winning big titles you always have big stars in your team. Capello is one of the best managers you can find."

Capello, whose list of successes as a coach includes a Champions League trophy and nine domestic titles in Italy and Spain, becomes the second foreigner to coach England following Eriksson, who held the job from 2001-6. His first match in charge will be the friendly against Euro 2008 co-hosts Switzerland at Wembley on 6 February.

Capello's tactical nous could be a useful asset for England, who have struggled in recent years with a string of coaches failing to make a talented bunch of players gel into a winning team. Steve McClaren was dismissed last month after England lost 3-2 at home to Croatia and failed to qualify for Euro 2008. A Capello defence would seldom have put in such a poor display and the FA knows he offers security at the back.

However, Capello was sacked by Real Madrid in June despite winning the Primera Liga title because his tactics were seen as boring. England fans, though, will not care too much about the style of play as long as it brings winning results.

"How can players with the quality of David Beckham and Michael Owen perform so differently when playing for their country? It is clear the shirt weighs heavy even for these winners," Capello wrote recently. "In these situations the coach's role is fundamental and he needs to be more psychologist than tactician or technician. The obvious explanation is that there is a mental block."

McLeish, Ranieri and Benitez back new man

REACTION

FORMER Scotland manager Alex McLeish believes Fabio Capello can guide England to the top of world football. The Birmingham City manager believes the FA has made the right choice and said yesterday: "He has got massive experience. His trophy haul is second to none.

"Wherever he has been, he has been successful. I've met him a couple of times and he is a top-class guy," said the man who came so close to guiding Scotland to Euro 2008 before moving to the Midlands club. "He just oozes class and he has got the gravitas to take any job in the world and his presence will help the England team."

McLeish added: "He has a fantastic lot of talent to choose from and I'm sure Capello will have England as one of the top nations in the world again.

"The expectation levels are that England should be competing for the big trophies and Capello could be the man to do that. He is capable of handling any pressure. He won't be fazed by the job and he has got the necessary experience."

In Italy, the former Chelsea coach Claudio Ranieri – now in charge of Juventus – said: "It will be Fabio's first time with a national team, but he knows football very well. I think his qualities are he will be very direct with the players and everybody. He is a very positive man, his players are strong with good attitudes. He is the right man, I think a very good choice."

Liverpool's Spanish manager Rafael Benitez believes Capello will overcome any language difficulties and will prove himself because he is "a winner".

Benitez said: "I know him, he is a great manager. He is a good worker and has clear ideas what to do. He is a winner. If you want to express something it is not easy as I found out. But he has experience and I am sure he will handle it."