British Interest in Fabio Capello now to Include Liverpool and Newcastle
The interest for ex-Real Madrid manager Fabio Capello is progressively growing across the Channel. After the many rumours picking him as one of the favorites for the England job, the Italian tactician now features prominently on the managerial shortlist of two EPL clubs: Liverpool and Newcastle. Or does he?
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Liverpool
According to the Daily Mirror, Capello was contacted twice already by the Reds club, one time before the Liverpool match against Porto last week, and one time after. With the increasing tensions building up between current Reds manager Rafael Benitez and American bosses George Gillett and Tom Hicks, it doesn’t come as much of a surprise to see the “powers that be” at Merseyside scan the market for the Spaniard’s replacement. Although, judging by the very latest news, it seems that a “ceasefire” has been agreed between Benitez and Gillett/Hicks, especially after a large majority of the club’s supporters openly supported the Spanish manager in a demonstration before the match against Porto. Not only that, but several Reds player (above all: Fernando Torres) have declared that if Benitez were to leave Merseyside, they’d be “following him out the door pronto”.
Nevertheless, the future of Benitez at Anfield seems to be hanging by a very thin thread. With managers like José Mourinho unable to coach in the EPL until the end of the year (due to the release clause the Portuguese manager signed, when his contract with Chelsea was terminated), Gillett/Hicks would have no trouble cutting that thread off if the possibility of hiring Capello became substantial.
When asked to comment, Liverpool’s Chief Executive Rick Parry cut speculations short, by stating through Liverpool Echo that “Capello hasn’t contacted us, nor have we contacted him”.
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Newcastle
On top of Anfield, Capello seem to be gathering a lot of attention on the side of St. James’ Park. According to the Daily Star, club owner Mike Ashley is believed to be prepared to give the current boss Sam Allardyce until Christmas “to turn things around“, but is putting in a contingency plan in case the club’s dismal form continues and they are forced to give English manager the axe.
The Star commented that “many Toon fans would like to see Alan Shearer as boss, but Ashley plans to send a delegation to Italy to speak to Capello and see if he would be interested if the job does become vacant“. Capello has made it abudantly clear he would love to manage in the Premier League, and has already voiced his interest in the England job.
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England
So what about that England job? Well, the current rumours tying Capello with Magpies and Reds should give the English FA a bit of a warning, that if they don’t act soon the Italian coach might slip them from under their fingers. Capello has already received many positive approvals from the “12 Wise Men” that FA Chief Executive Brian Barwick consulted these past weeks. According to the Daily Mail, Barwick should end his “tour” this week, and should announce his decision before Christmas. “By the end of this week Barwick will have spoken to all those he intends to consult, Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger included, and officials are not ruling out the possibility of an appointment in the next three weeks. The FA board meet on December 19, by which time Barwick would like to be in a position to make his recommendation” the Mail quoted.
Obviously, all the odds are pointing towards José Mourinho right now, whom Barwick is expected to meet an intermediary of in the next few days. According to a source quoted by the Mail, “Mourinho would be interested in the job were the salary to exceed the £5million a year Sven Goran Eriksson received towards the end of his tenure.
Meanwhile, John Terry has once again expressed his warmest recommendation for the ex-Blues manager. “He’s one that really stands out for me and could make a big difference“, Terry told Sky yesterday. “He’s a great guy tactically, he’s very aware and he understands the game very well. He came in and took us to a new level. I’m lucky to have been able to work with Jose. He’s a fantastic manager and a fantastic guy“.
To the Liverpool and Newcastle fans: What do you think? Would you support the appointment of Capello as manager of your club, or would you rather have him coach England, with the hope that he will finally take the Three Lions to a new level?
Marco Pantanella writes for the mCalcio blog
I tell you what i will let you know what Liverpool think………
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry has written off speculation that Fabio Capello has been approached about becoming manager as “absolutely, completely and utterly untrue”.
At his stage of life, Capello is lkely to be far interested in a big international job with England than he would be managing Liverpool or Newcastle. Liverpool is a non-starter because Benitez is going nowhere.
Capello might consider Newcastle, if he didn’t get the England job and no other big money offers were on the table. The draw against Arsenal was an encouraging sign for Newcastle, however if Newcastle’s form was to crash over the next 6 games (unlikely looking at their opposition) then there might just be a scenario for a Capello-Shearer “dream team”.
What good would hiring a manager who doesn’t even speak basic English be to any of these teams? Even Liverpool’s strong Spanish contingent in the dressing room would hardly make him an ideal choice. I’m strongly against Liverpool or England hiring him, it would be a step in the wrong direction.
Danny, if Capello went to England he would have to come with (and intends to come with) Gianfranco Zola who apart from having been a fine player and is a good coach (Italy under 21s) is also bi-lingual. Anyway, Howard Wilkinson who has coached with him says that Capello’s English is fine for “football speak” on the training ground (Sportsweek, 25.11.07) – conducting press interviews would be something else. Not unlike the Ramos situation at present with Gus Poyet.
Frankie, although it goes without saying that, given the choice, Capello would pick the national team over an EPL club, he’s repeatedly declared that he would also be very interested in coaching an English club. It doesn’t require a big stretch of the imagination to think that if someone else lands the gig with the Three Lions, Capello could then point his attention elsewhere, but still remain on British soil.
Your question read, in part, “To the Liverpool…fans: What do you think? Would you support the appointment of Capello as manager of your club…”
I’m sure they’re out there, but I would think that there are very few Liverpool fans who are ready to see Benitez go. And if Benitez were to go (which I’m not ruling out entirely; stranger things have happened, including Capello’s own firing), I’m not sure which manager would WANT to go to Liverpool.
Capello will not join any of the 3 mentioned, for 1 Benitez is going nowhere and I feel if Allardyce does go then there is only 1 person that Mike Ashley will employ – ALAN SHEARER – as for England no! For some reason I think that there is only 1 manager that will be the next England manager and he is the people choice Jose Mourinho, I also think that there is too much pressure on the England board to appoint Mourinho that they will choose anyone other than him!
That’s my opinion anyway.
Just bring Capello to teach England how to get a good result !!!!
Micah would still sit on the bench..why ? Because don fabio will get his golden boy, Christian Panucci to play right full back