Capello confirmed as England coach

Fabio Capello has been confirmed as the new England manager after the details of his contract were finalised with the Football Association today.

The Italian signed a four-and-a-half year deal - reportedly worth £6m a year, with an opt out after the 2010 World Cup finals.

Capello, 61, will be unveiled at a news conference on Monday before taking up the role on 7 January. His first game in charge will be the friendly against Switzerland at Wembley Stadium on 6 February.

The appointment was made following discussions with FA Chief Executive Brian Barwick and Director of Football Development Sir Trevor Brooking on Wednesday. This was then ratified unanimously by the FA Board on Thursday before today's confirmation.

Capello’s backroom staff will consist of long-term assistants Franco Baldini and Italo Galbiati, goalkeeping coach Franco Tancredi, and fitness coach Massimo Neri. He will also discuss with Brooking how to integrate an English presence into the coaching set-up.

"I am delighted that Fabio Capello has agreed to become England manager. 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," read a statement from Barwick.

"Fabio is a winner. His record over the last two decades speaks for itself. At every club he has managed, Fabio has won the League title and Trevor and I were left in no doubt of his passion and commitment to bring that success to the England team."

Brooking added: "Fabio Capello is widely recognised as one of the world's finest coaches. 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."

With England failing to qualify for the UEFA Euro 2008 tournament, Capello's first competitive game will be a World Cup qualifier on 6 September.

Capello has vast experience as a coach at the top level of the game. His 16-year managerial career has encompassed spells at AC Milan, Real Madrid, Roma and Juventus. In total, Capello has won nine League titles in Italy and Spain as well as lifting the European Cup with Milan in 1994.

Capello enjoyed a successful playing career as a midfielder with Roma, Juventus and Milan, winning 32 caps for the Azzurri.

He began his coaching career with Milan graduating to take charge of the first team in 1991. He brought huge success to the Rossoneri winning four Serie A titles in five seasons and overseeing European Cup success with a 4-0 final victory over Barcelona in 1994.

A season at Real Madrid followed where the team won the Primera Liga. After a brief return to Milan, Capello joined Roma. The Scudetto was secured in 2001 and Capello was recruited by Juventus in 2004 where he won Serie A in both 2005 and 2006.

Capello spent last season back at Madrid, once again winning the League, but that wan't enough as he was subsequently sacked. He has since been working as a pundit for Italian state broadcaster RAI Sport, and is expected to continue that job until the new year.

Source: BBC / Football Association