Capello named Russia manager

Former England boss tasked with reviving the fortunes of Russia after team failed to get past Euro 2012 group stages.

Capello
The Italian coach will replace Dick Advocaat and is expected to sign his contract later this week [GALLO/GETTY]

The Russian Football Union (RFU) on Monday appointed Italian coach Fabio Capello as new national manager to revive the flagging fortunes of the team after its flop at Euro 2012.

“Today we decided to appoint Capello as our national team’s new manager,” the RFU deputy president Nikita Simonyan told ITAR-TASS news agency.

“We expect him to come to Moscow in the nearest future to finalise the details of his contract and sign it.”

“I think this will happen on Wednesday or Thursday,” added Simonyan, who is acting chief of the RFU after the ruling body’s previous head Sergei Fursenko resigned last month.

Financial details have not been disclosed but the Sport Express daily reported last week that Capello had been offered an annual salary of up to $8.5 million.

The 66-year-old Capello will be the immediate successor to Dutchman Dick Advocaat whose side were disappointingly knocked out of the Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine at the group stages.

Brazil doubts

Russia’s shock failure to qualify out of arguably the event’s weakest group despite being packed with highly-rated players such as Andrei Arshavin and Alan Dzagoev left the team a tough challenge to make the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil.

Capello, nicknamed “Don Fabio”, has previously coached AC Milan, Roma, Juventus and Real Madrid during his managerial career, winning domestic titles with each, before becoming England manager in 2007.

Under Capello, England qualified for Euro 2012 before the Italian resigned after falling out with Football Association chiefs after he stood by John Terry as skipper despite the Chelsea man being embroiled in a racism trial which ultimately saw the defender acquitted.

In sometimes farcical selection process, the RFU last week announced a star-studded 13-man list of candidates for the post of manager that won ridicule at home and abroad.

The hugely-ambitious hit-list included ex-Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp, former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez, former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola, Italian veteran Marcello Lippi and Argentinean coach Marcelo Bielsa.

The list also contained the names of seven Russian coaches but also Capello, who in the end appeared to be the only serious candidate. Why the RFU felt the need to publish its wish-list has never been explained.

Rush job

Last Thursday Capello came to Moscow to hold talks with RFU and his arrival caused an immediate sensation in the Russian media.

However the Italian travelled to Moscow in a hurry and was reportedly forced to stay in the airport on arrival, waiting for several hours while the RFU officials finalised formalities to grant Capello a Russian entry visa.

After meeting, Russian football officials expressed confidence they could agree terms with one of the biggest coaching names in the sport.

“Capello is ready to work conscientiously and live here in Russia,” Simonyan was quoted as saying by the local media.

“He did not make any extraordinary demands.”

One of the Italian manager’s key conditions was reportedly having Italian-speaking Russian assistant coaches in his squad. Igor Shalimov and Dmitry Alenichev, who have experience playing with Italian Serie A clubs and both speak the language, are top contenders to join Capello’s coaching team, Sport Express said.

Source: AFP