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FA 'positive' after Capello talks
Italian Capello has won domestic titles in both Italy and Spain
The Football Association has described talks with prospective new England coach Fabio Capello as "extremely positive and without any problems". Capello flew out of Heathrow airport on Wednesday after meeting with the FA.
The 61-year-old met with FA chief executive Brian Barwick and director of development Sir Trevor Brooking.
FA director of communications Adrian Bevington said: "Understandably further talks are now taking place between Fabio's advisors and ourselves."
Interview: Fabio Capello (Football Focus on 24/11/07)
Interview: Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger
Ex-Real Madrid, Juventus, Roma and AC Milan boss Capello has received glowing references from top names in football.
606: DEBATE
Lippi would be my personal choice, but Capello hardly comes in a poor second
BBC Sport's Phil McNulty
The Italian reportedly met with the FA at Wembley Stadium - and Bevington added: "Fabio has returned to Italy to honour a prior commitment."
According to BBC Radio 5 Live football correspondent Jonathan Legard, initial discussions regarding the finer print of a contract happened prior to the Italian's arrival in London.
"I am also told that much of the contractual work had already been handled on Capello's behalf by the Italian super-agent Giovanni Branchini, a man who is renowned for his tough talking, high-profile deal-making," said Legard.
"I am also told Branchini has gone to Tokyo already for the World Club Championship, which suggests that much of the work has been done already.
"It is the first time the pair have worked together and could be an indication of Capello's determination to make things happen with the FA."
Marcello Lippi, who steered Italy to success in the 2006 World Cup, was thought to be Capello's main rival for the job.
Jose Mourinho was the favourite to succeed McClaren, who was sacked after England failed to qualify for Euro 2008, but the former Chelsea boss pulled out of the running.
Capello has won nine league titles in 16 years as a coach, picking up silverware with all four clubs he has been in charge of.
He won the Champions League with Milan in 1994 and was also an accomplished player, winning 32 caps as a midfielder for the national team.
Former AC Milan and England striker Mark Hateley lived in the same housing complex as Capello when he played for the Italian giants.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Be very worried, be very worried. This man will not suffer fools. He will drop people. He will bring people in you least expect him to bring in.
"He's not in this to pick individuals. He'll pick players that will balance up and that's the problem we've had in the past, the fear of dropping the top stars."
"He knows how to get players to play for him. "Okay, he left David Beckham out (at Real Madrid) but he was brave enough to bring him back.
"When David Beckham did get back into the Real Madrid side, it was the David we knew of old. Not only is he a good tactician, he's a good psychologist."
The only problem he could have, I don't know how good his English is. But the technical job, you don't have to worry about him
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger
"One of his major qualities is to get the best out of his players, to make sure everyone is committed to the team's goals," the 31-year-old told Radio 5 Live.
"He is very, very specific in what he wants and very clear what he wants from every player.
"Sometimes he really pushes you to the limits and that, of course, has proven effective.
"When the focus is on the training, then he really expects 100% and not less.
"He would rather have less quality but committed players rather than quality players who are not committed.
"But he is also very experienced with great players and is able to get the best out of them."
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes England could not choose a better-qualified coach but expressed concern about the Italian's grasp of English, which is said to be limited. "Capello is a strong character," confirmed Wenger.
"He has a clear idea of what he wants. I believe as well he's a strong winner. The guy is convinced of the methods he uses. The quality of the candidate is outstanding.
"The only problem he could have, I don't know how good his English is. A big part of the job is to deal with the media.
"But the technical job, you don't have to worry about him."
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is another fan of Capello.
"To manage a national team you need to be a certain age with plenty of experience and with a presence and a CV that is indisputable and Capello has all of that," said the Scot.
I would say that his credentials are incredible. If the class of Fabio Capello fails then it is very worrying for the England national team
Italian journalist Giancarlo Galavotti
Giancarlo Galavotti, London correspondent for Gazzetta dello Sport, compares Capello to Ferguson.
"I would say he is a Sir Alex Ferguson sort of character," said Galavotti.
"He is very much his own man, very much wants to win and if winning means to set aside players or even staff who have been with him for many years he will do that because he has got only one aim and that is to win.
"I would say that his credentials are incredible. If the class of Fabio Capello fails then it is very worrying for the England national team."
Former Chelsea star Gianfranco Zola has voiced his support for Capello, saying he "possesses the ideal pedigree to create a new era of success for England".
He added: "Even when Jose Mourinho was in the running I believed that Capello had even more charisma, talent and experience for a challenging job like this one."
McClaren was sacked on 22 November after England failed to qualify for next year's European Championship.
Italian Capello has won domestic titles in both Italy and SpainThe Football Association has described talks with prospective new England coach Fabio Capello as "extremely positive and without any problems". Capello flew out of Heathrow airport on Wednesday after meeting with the FA.
The 61-year-old met with FA chief executive Brian Barwick and director of development Sir Trevor Brooking.
FA director of communications Adrian Bevington said: "Understandably further talks are now taking place between Fabio's advisors and ourselves."
Interview: Fabio Capello (Football Focus on 24/11/07) Interview: Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger Ex-Real Madrid, Juventus, Roma and AC Milan boss Capello has received glowing references from top names in football.
606: DEBATE Lippi would be my personal choice, but Capello hardly comes in a poor second
BBC Sport's Phil McNulty
The Italian reportedly met with the FA at Wembley Stadium - and Bevington added: "Fabio has returned to Italy to honour a prior commitment."
According to BBC Radio 5 Live football correspondent Jonathan Legard, initial discussions regarding the finer print of a contract happened prior to the Italian's arrival in London.
"I am also told that much of the contractual work had already been handled on Capello's behalf by the Italian super-agent Giovanni Branchini, a man who is renowned for his tough talking, high-profile deal-making," said Legard.
"I am also told Branchini has gone to Tokyo already for the World Club Championship, which suggests that much of the work has been done already.
"It is the first time the pair have worked together and could be an indication of Capello's determination to make things happen with the FA."
Marcello Lippi, who steered Italy to success in the 2006 World Cup, was thought to be Capello's main rival for the job.
Jose Mourinho was the favourite to succeed McClaren, who was sacked after England failed to qualify for Euro 2008, but the former Chelsea boss pulled out of the running.
Capello has won nine league titles in 16 years as a coach, picking up silverware with all four clubs he has been in charge of.
He won the Champions League with Milan in 1994 and was also an accomplished player, winning 32 caps as a midfielder for the national team.
Former AC Milan and England striker Mark Hateley lived in the same housing complex as Capello when he played for the Italian giants.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Be very worried, be very worried. This man will not suffer fools. He will drop people. He will bring people in you least expect him to bring in.
"He's not in this to pick individuals. He'll pick players that will balance up and that's the problem we've had in the past, the fear of dropping the top stars."
"He knows how to get players to play for him. "Okay, he left David Beckham out (at Real Madrid) but he was brave enough to bring him back.
"When David Beckham did get back into the Real Madrid side, it was the David we knew of old. Not only is he a good tactician, he's a good psychologist."
The only problem he could have, I don't know how good his English is. But the technical job, you don't have to worry about him Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger
"One of his major qualities is to get the best out of his players, to make sure everyone is committed to the team's goals," the 31-year-old told Radio 5 Live.
"He is very, very specific in what he wants and very clear what he wants from every player.
"Sometimes he really pushes you to the limits and that, of course, has proven effective.
"When the focus is on the training, then he really expects 100% and not less.
"He would rather have less quality but committed players rather than quality players who are not committed.
"But he is also very experienced with great players and is able to get the best out of them."
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes England could not choose a better-qualified coach but expressed concern about the Italian's grasp of English, which is said to be limited. "Capello is a strong character," confirmed Wenger.
"He has a clear idea of what he wants. I believe as well he's a strong winner. The guy is convinced of the methods he uses. The quality of the candidate is outstanding.
"The only problem he could have, I don't know how good his English is. A big part of the job is to deal with the media.
"But the technical job, you don't have to worry about him."
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is another fan of Capello.
"To manage a national team you need to be a certain age with plenty of experience and with a presence and a CV that is indisputable and Capello has all of that," said the Scot.
I would say that his credentials are incredible. If the class of Fabio Capello fails then it is very worrying for the England national team Italian journalist Giancarlo Galavotti
Giancarlo Galavotti, London correspondent for Gazzetta dello Sport, compares Capello to Ferguson.
"I would say he is a Sir Alex Ferguson sort of character," said Galavotti.
"He is very much his own man, very much wants to win and if winning means to set aside players or even staff who have been with him for many years he will do that because he has got only one aim and that is to win.
"I would say that his credentials are incredible. If the class of Fabio Capello fails then it is very worrying for the England national team."
Former Chelsea star Gianfranco Zola has voiced his support for Capello, saying he "possesses the ideal pedigree to create a new era of success for England".
He added: "Even when Jose Mourinho was in the running I believed that Capello had even more charisma, talent and experience for a challenging job like this one."
McClaren was sacked on 22 November after England failed to qualify for next year's European Championship.