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After three weeks' hard labour, the Football Association finally struck gold as Fabio Capello was appointed the new England manager.

From the moment Steve McClaren was dismissed in the wake of England's failure to reach Euro 2008, FA chief executive Brian Barwick and director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking pledged to scour the planet for a 'world-class' replacement.

At one point it looked as though Jose Mourinho would be the man. But then, when the former Chelsea boss turned his back on the job, Barwick and Brooking made their beeline for Capello, the 61-year-old former Juventus, AC Milan and Real Madrid coach who had made his desire to take the challenge known within hours of McClaren's departure.

The final touches to a four-and-a-half year contract took slightly longer than had been imagined and the official unveiling will now take place on Monday ahead of his first day in the office on January 7.

But Barwick and Brooking have fulfilled their pledge, albeit at an annual cost of £6.5million and with four extra Italian coaches in tow.

"When we set out to recruit the new manager, we said we were committed to appointing a world-class candidate. In Fabio Capello we have that man," said Barwick.

"He is a winner and his record over the last two decades speaks for itself.

Capello's contract takes in not just the 2010 World Cup qualifiers but the campaign to reach Euro 2012 as well.

His first official game in charge will be against Switzerland at Wembley on February 6, when David Beckham is expected to win his 100th cap.

Capello, after so long at the highest level in the club game, where he has won nine league titles, culminating in Real Madrid's success last season, has achieved everything possible in club football and is thrilled by the chance to apply his talents to the international game.

His ability to improve even experienced players like Clarence Seedorf, who benefited from his input at AC Milan, is testament to Capello's skills on the coaching ground.

Capello's arrival has been greeted less than enthusiastically by some in the English game, who feel the FA should have plumped for a home manager.

The language barrier should not be an issue either following confirmation by Sir Alex Ferguson that Capello can speak perfectly good English, while the installation of a coaching team comprising assistants Franco Baldini and Italo Galbiati, goalkeeping coach Franco Tancredi and fitness coach Massimo Neri, confirms Capello's intention to be his own man.

His choice of captain is eagerly awaited, as is the English coach that will be appointed to his team in consultation with Brooking.

Former skipper Alan Shearer and current under-21 boss Stuart Pearce are among those being considered, although it is also possible the name of Watford's highly-rated manager Aidy Boothroyd will crop up if they are thinking of someone already in a job who could expand his experience for potential future employment.

"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.

"Fabio will have the full support of the FA and its coaching set-up. We are excited about working with him over the coming years as we focus on qualification for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa."


Will he be any good, you'll just have to wait & see

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i think capello is good :P p.s. im from italy exactly rome :P

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He's a good manager and he will be good for the England national team. The real question is whether the England players are as good as they think they are...

well eddie that is the point, capello has worked with many good stars and he is not afraid to drop them if they dont perform enough, i guess its a good decision the FA has made but the question remains why the FA did not chose an english coach

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"My father taught me many things ... keep your friends close, but your enemies closer."

i think he is the best think that happened to the English soccer.

totally agree with condor54. the previous managers of england picked players based on fame and not form.

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capello will be a great manager... if he can do two things. Firstly get the high quality world class players in the team to work together, Secondly where this is not possible (such as in the case of trying to get lampard and gerrard to play together) have the confidence to drop them and introduce maybe not such world class players but players that contribute to creating a world class team.