England offer Capello £4m
As Glenn Hoddle joins the group backing Fabio Capello to be the new England manager, it’s reported a £4m per season offer is on the table.
Former Juventus, Roma and Real Madrid boss Capello is the hot favourite to replace Steve McClaren on the Three Lions bench after their failure to qualify for Euro 2008.
He has already stated his interest in taking the job and it is now reported in the Italian media that negotiations are in full swing.
It’s claimed the England FA have offered a four-year contract worth £4m per season for Capello to take them through to the 2010 World Cup and 2012 European Championships.
However, the only catch is that they want an answer immediately and are unwilling to negotiate further on the terms.
If Capello turns it down, then the same contract will be offered to ex-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, who has not confirmed or denied his interest in the job.
“Fabio wins wherever he goes, so I wish him the best and to have many more satisfying moments in his career,” said Milan President Silvio Berlusconi.
After Terry Venables, now former England manager Hoddle has also backed Capello for the job.
"If the FA want a foreign Coach then it needs to be someone who has done well at the highest level," he told 'Radio 5 Live’.
"The man who fits that description is Capello. He's my number one choice for the job. I feel the successful candidate must have vast experience at all levels if the FA are to opt for a foreign manager."
However, Hoddle also had a suggestion to prepare for the future beyond this contract.
"I would allow Capello to bring one of his assistants, but I would have an English guy operating alongside him who would be groomed to eventually take over.
"It doesn't have to be a young man but guys like Stuart Pearce, Alan Shearer, Steve Coppell are possibilities."
It has already been reported in the Italian media that Capello would bring a bi-lingual figure with him as assistant manager.
Names in the hat include Gianfranco Zola – currently working with Pierluigi Casiraghi in the Italian Under-21 side – and former Sampdoria and Juventus player David Platt.
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England's Problem Is Mentality - Capello
Fabio Capello has stated that he believes that England's players suffer a mental block when playing for their country and it is down to the manager to deal with that.
The Italian is among the frontrunners to succeed Steve McClaren and did not hold back in his assessment of the team's failed bid to reach the European Championships.
"As coaches we all ask ourselves how England, with the players they have, failed to qualify for Euro 2008," Capello told Marca.
"The English national team, like the Spanish one, win little despite having leagues that make more money than the others.
"I have seen some of England's games. Against Russia in Moscow they defended on the edge of their area for 90 minutes despite holding a 1-0 lead." England lost 2-1 after late goals from Russia's Roman Pavlyuchenko.
"Against Croatia, they all pushed up and lost 3-2 when a draw would have qualified them.
"The difference in attitude between these games is too great. 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.
"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. Otherwise, how else can you explain their elimination?"
Capello is currently the bookies favourite to take over England, while José Mourinho is second, Martin O'Neill third and Jürgen Klinsmann is fought.
Out of the top ten favourites with William Hill, four are English with Harry Redknapp, Alan Shearer, Steve Coppell and Stuart Peace all in the running.
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