Fabio Capello, England Coach - the right choice

Recalling how pitiful Steve McClaren looked and spoke at the press conference held after his dismissal by the FA further reminds me how important it was for us to be rid of him from the England coach position. It further reminds me of the image of McClaren hiding under an umbrella while his then adversary in Slaven Bilic remained in his jacket and suit. McClaren could not even brave the elements while out there monitoring his career ebb with the lacklustre approach from the very players he is said to have coached. The manner of that conference where he said words to the effect of 'it's happened, it's sad, I've tried, didn't work, I'm sacked, move on, next challenge, see ya'. Hardly a care and as pitiful as his ridiculous exit after the away Andorra game.

My choice was Harry Redknapp with potentially Tony Adams as his no.2, both English and in charge of a Portsmouth side brimming with confidence, their best Premiership start ever and in top shape up the table. Wasn't it Portsmouth who battled relegation during most seasons? Such a contrast. But since the frighteningly suspicious way it was exposed that police were on their way to Redknapp's house during an investigation into corruption in football, Redknapp was embroiled in 'controversy', therefore ruling him out of the running for the position. I would bet that Redknapp would have taken that role with huge aplomb and with little persuasion.

Jose Mourinho became a sudden favourite for the role, where it was made abundantly clear he was interested and wanted someone to talk to him about it from the FA. Yes, good, what's that? OK, what about, then there's.........well, not really, no, I don't think, that doesn't work, not that much. In the end, despite Mrs Mourinho's keen interest to return to London, her husband chose to turn down the coaching role. I didn't think he really wanted it in the first place but instead looked to propel himself into the media spotlight for others to take a look at him. The Special One. With Chelsea, two league titles, one FA Cup, two League Cups, Community Shield. With Porto, two league titles, UEFA Cup and the European Cup. Very impressive. But the Special One did not feel for a real challenge in turning around England's fortunes to qualify for the World Cup 2010.

Fabio Capello clearly does. From his appointment as coach of AC Milan in 1991, he led AC to four league titles and the European Cup. He left AC to join Real Madrid, winning La Liga title, rejoined AC again for 12 months and then moved onto Rome giants AS Roma, guiding them to their first Scudetto in 18 years and leaving them in some controversy with players leaving the club and Roma ending up with Capello's departure and near relegation. Capello then joined Juventus and took them to two Scudetto titles consecutively, though the titles were stripped from the club as a result of the match-fixing fiasco. Capello joined Real Madrid again, last season, with former Juve players Fabio Cannavaro and Emerson following. Real Madrid finished with the last game winning 2-1 to grab the title off Barcelona. Capello was fired nonetheless.

Nine league titles and a European Cup, Capello's record shows clear intent in his team to achieve and nothing less acceptable. He is rumoured to pull no punches with his players, they are to listen and nothing else. He has clashed with the likes of Ruud Gullitt, Francesco Totti, Alessandro del Piero, Antonio Cassano, tutored the likes of Clarence Seedorf, Paolo Maldini, Marco Van Basten, Marcel Desailly. He is exactly what England could do well with, put the steel into the team that they have been missing for many many years. I hope this is what we are due to see from his management, not the cowering under the umbrella while the ship is sinking.



RedsMan.