Capello vows to speak English within month

FABIO Capello has vowed to ensure his command of the English language will be comprehensible in time for his first match in charge of the national team.

The Italian, who signed a four-and-a-half-year contract last week worth £6.5million a year, currently speaks only basic English and his introductory press conference as Steve McClaren's successor yesterday was conducted through an interpreter.

However, the former Real Madrid and Juventus head coach insists he will be fully prepared for communication with his new charges ahead of the visit of Switzerland on 6 February.

Capello said: "I'm convinced that, in one month, when the national squad will meet for the first time under me, I will be able to speak the language.

"I believe that it's very important to be able to communicate with the players and, for sure, I will undertake a really strict routine for myself. I will apply myself every day and I want to learn the language in time to meet the players next month."

However, Capello's first appointment will be the installation of an English voice into his coaching staff. The new England manager will have his four regular coaching compatriots – Franco Baldini, Italo Galbiati, Massimo Neri and Franco Tancredi – alongside him, but insists the squad need at least one familiar face to work under.

England Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce has already emerged as a leading contender and Capello will have further discussions with FA director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking over the role.

"It is vital we have somebody who understands the football situation here, and the environment, and has the language to help," said Capello.

However, while Capello's words were subjected largely to a translator, his opening gambit in English yesterday revealed a burning desire to follow his club successes at international level.

"I am very proud and honoured to be the England manager. I have wanted this job for a long time," he said.

"It's an honour to be the coach, and it's a dream come true. It's a job that everybody wants and everybody knows there are great expectations with the job and I will work to achieve these with the FA.

"I have four games before June when I will be able to experiment but more importantly form a group which regains a mentality and a philosophy in the national squad that can get the results.

"English footballers have a will to win and love for their country. It is a question of getting it out of them."

He added: "I am convinced this is a great team and can go right to the top."

McClaren put his faith in John Terry as England captain, but the Chelsea defender's leadership skills have been undermined in the eyes of some FA board members by on-field indiscipline, most notably, when he tried to snatch the red card from referee Mike Dean's hand after the dismissal of Stamford Bridge team-mate John Obi Mikel at Manchester United in September.

But Capello shrugged off the question: "I have just arrived. There are many things I have to think about, I have got over a month and I will make my decision."

While many pundits have balked at the amount of money being spent by the FA on Capello's appointment, the new manager maintains financial gain is not his motivation. "Money is really a secondary issue. It's important but obviously secondary," he said. "The main issue we have to deal with is the results."

FA chief executive Brian Barwick was bullish in his manner as he introduced Capello as a "winner". He said:

"We knew the next appointment had to be somebody of world-class status, a man with a strong personality, vast experience, a coach used to handling big players, big matches and big in-match situations, a man who is tactically astute, adaptable, of proven pedigree, mature and who can handle a big job with the pressures that go with it.

"A winner with a capital 'W'.

"That was the template, this is the man. Fabio Capello."

Age may count against Beckham in bid for century of caps

DAVID Beckham is sweating over whether he will be part of new England coach Fabio Capello's short and long-term plans with the Italian admitting: "I wish he was younger."

Beckham found himself one cap short of the century mark at the end of the Steve McClaren era after his appearance as a substitute against Croatia at Wembley in the final Euro 2008 qualifier.

The LA Galaxy star has revealed his desire to try and play through to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and impressed Capello in the final stages of his Real Madrid career after fighting his way back into favour.

But it remains to be seen whether the age of 32-year-old Beckham will count against him and Capello also admitted the behaviour of the former Manchester United player would be an "important" factor.

Capello said: "I had a contrasting relationship with David Beckham at Real Madrid. In the end, he demonstrated himself to be a great man and a great player.

"He is also the kind of person who, when he sets himself something, he will achieve it. With David Beckham, the only thing you would wish for is that he was younger.

"Will he be part of my plans? You never know. I will have to make choices. I believe basically that Beckham's behaviour will be important.

"However, there is still over a month to the first game (a friendly against Switzerland on 6 February), so there is plenty of time for these important decisions to be made."

Capello would also make no assurances on whether Chelsea defender John Terry would remain as captain – a role he was given by McClaren after Beckham resigned from the position after the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

There have been reports that some members of the Football Association board have been unhappy at Terry's aggressive behaviour towards referees when disputing decisions.

Capello said: "I have just arrived here and there are many things I have to think about. Give me some time.

"I have got over a month before the players meet up for the first game and I will make my decisions."

Capello has a reputation for being strict with his players at club level and wants Terry and the squad to show pride when wearing the England shirt.

But he admits he will have to adapt his methods in dealing with a squad which he will only work with intermittently.

Capello said: "I believe a strict style of coaching is something one can only really apply if in contact with players on a daily basis. It is impossible to adapt coaching within one week.

"I am going to have to learn the habits of each individual and it is something I will decide when I meet the players.

"I think being the manager of England is also very different to being a manager of a club where you have daily contact with the players.

"My behaviour will have to change – as will theirs. All of them have a very big job to do because it is a very important shirt they are wearing."

Capello will watch DVDs of all England's Euro 2008 qualifiers and accepts the style of play he chooses will depend on which personnel are at his disposal.

He said: "I have to watch all the England qualifying games. I believe the style England adopt will depend on the players available to me.

"Yes, I believe there should be a style of play, but it is equally important to be flexible."

10 FACTS ABOUT FABIO

• He is a confirmed art buff and has a private collection worth £10million.

• In his playing days, Capello scored for Italy against England at the old Wembley in 1973 to secure the Azzurri's first win over the Three Lions.

• Capello's teams are notoriously hard to beat. Under him, AC Milan completed a run of 58 games without defeat.

• Following his retirement as a player, Capello worked for AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi as a manager of one of the tycoon's companies, Mediolanum.

• Last year, he claimed in the Italian press that Fascist dictator General Franco had "left a legacy of order" in Spain.

• Capello's son Pierfilippo, a lawyer, represented him in talks with the Football Association.

• Capello has twice been replaced by Germans at Real Madrid – Jupp Heynckes in 1997 and Bernd Schuster a decade later.

• Capello has won the league title with every team he has managed – AC Milan, Real Madrid, Juventus and Roma.

• He has a passion for jamon iberico, Spanish ham – and while at Juventus, he had it specially imported to him from Spain.

• During his second spell at Real Madrid, he had disagreements with a number of star players – including Ronaldo, fellow Italian Antonio Cassano and former England captain David Beckham.

AZZURRI TINGE TO BACKROOM

FABIO Capello has introduced an Italian flavour to England's backroom staff after his appointment as manager. An Englishman is expected to be integrated into the set-up soon, but 'Don Fabio' also has his trusted team. Here is a brief introduction to the men Capello has brought in to fortify the England coaching set-up:

• FRANCO BALDINI

Former Roma sporting director Baldini may have been appointed as an assistant manager but he should occupy a position similar to that of Tord Grip under Sven-Goran Eriksson in a hands-off, advisory role.

• ITALO GALBIATI

Galbiati is expected to fill a role next to Capello in the Wembley dug-out, operating in a motivational and coaching role more similar to that of – dare we say it – Steve McClaren under Eriksson.

• MASSIMO NERI

Fitness trainer at Juventus and Real Madrid during Capello's spells and an integral member of the team due to the manager's reliance on physical strength and speed.

• FRANCO TANCREDI

Goalkeeping coach and Roma legend from his days between the sticks who represented Italy at the 1986 World Cup and has been with 'Don Fabio' throughout nearly all of his managerial career.