Capello to become England manager

Italian Capello has won domestic titles in both Italy and Spain Fabio Capello will be appointed the next manager of England later on Thursday, BBC Sport understands. BBC sports editor Mihir Bose says the Italian will be offered a contract to 2010 worth £4m a year, with the option to extend it after the World Cup. Capello, 61, is in Milan but told the BBC there are a few issues to sort out before his appointment is confirmed. Asked by 5 Live's Brian Alexander if he was about to become the England boss, he replied: "Not yet. We shall see."

Capello's appointment is expected to be ratified by the Football Association following a conference call involving board members at lunchtime.

The former AC Milan, Real Madrid, Roma and Juventus coach succeeds Steve McClaren, who was sacked in November following England's failure to qualify for next year's European Championships.

There is no concrete news yet on Capello's assistants, but there is expected to be some kind of English influence, with Alan Shearer or Stuart Pearce tipped to earn a role in the new managerial set-up.

BBC Sport understands that Capello wants to include Franco Baldini in his backroom team, but the FA are yet to be convinced.

Baldini, who worked with Capello at Roma and Real Madrid, would take on a sporting director role, helping to identify players and watching opposition teams.

The FA is believed to be concerned that the role could overlap with the responsibilities of Sir Trevor Brooking, who is director of football.

But Capello has a close relationship with Baldini and believes his footballing expertise would be invaluable.

Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho was the initial favourite to take over from McClaren, but he eventually ruled himself out of the running.

The FA quickly turned its attentions to Capello, although World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi was also thought to be in contention.

Capello expressed his interest in the job just days after McClaren's departure, describing it as a "beautiful challenge".

He finally met for discussions with FA chief executive Brian Barwick and director of football Brooking in London on Wednesday.

Those talks were described as "extremely positive" by FA director of communications Adrian Bevington.

Capello 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.

Sven-Goran Eriksson, the first foreigner to take charge of the England national team, is also a big fan.

"I have known Fabio Capello for many years, I was his opponent in Serie A for 10 years," said the Swede, who was coach of Roma, Fiorentina, Lazio and Sampdoria.

"He is a very good man and manager. His record speaks very clear. He has won titles in Italy.

"Capello is one of the best managers you can find."

Capello has only a limited grasp of the English language but Eriksson added: "That won't be a problem. It certainly wasn't for me as I spoke to him in Italian!"

Capello has enjoyed success in both Italy and Spain.

He has won nine league titles in 16 years as a coach, picking up silverware with all four clubs - AC Milan, Real Madrid, Roma and Juventus - he has been in charge of.

He won the Champions League with Milan in 1994 and was also an accomplished player, winning 32 caps for Italy.

Marcel Desailly played under Capello at Milan during his first spell in charge and has no doubt his former coach will be a success.

"He's professional and very demanding, but I think that's what the England players need," the Frenchman told BBC News 24.

"He will put them under pressure to deliver, but that is a good thing.

"And you will not see him in trouble with the tabloids. His life is all about football and he will be focused on his job."

Former England captain Tony Adams is not entirely happy the England job has gone to a foreigner.

"I wanted English," said the Portsmouth assistant manager, who, as part of his coaching education, has been out to Italy to watch Capello in action.

"There's a lot of good Englishman and I just think it was only right we should have tried to get someone English.

"But you cannot argue with Capello's CV, he's got a fantastic CV and won a lot of trophies in his time."

Capello's first game in charge will be a friendly against Switzerland at Wembley on 6 February, with another friendly to follow against France in Paris on 26 March.

England's first World Cup qualifier is not until 6 September.

They have been drawn in a group alongside Croatia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Andorra.

za mene je ovo jedan od najboljih strucnjaka sveta svih vremena. Do sada je iskljucivo trenirao klubove i pitanje je kako mu leze reprezentacije, gde nema svakodnevnog rada sa igracima i gde ima dodatnih otezavajuceih okolnosti kao sto je nemogucnost da se utice na fizicku spremnost igraca i na njihovo zdravlje sto je u ovim kvalifikacijama bilo kobno po Engleze.