MOSCOW: Former England manager Fabio Capello will have a tough task of rebuilding Russia’s national team after the country’s FA (RFU) said yesterday they had chosen him to take charge.
RFU acting president Nikita Simonyan said they had decided to hand the job to Capello, known as a strict disciplinarian, following Russia’s disappointing Euro 2012 campaign.
““We have decided to name Fabio Capello as the new manager of our national team. We await him in Moscow over the next few days for the final details and the signing of the contract,” Simonyan told local media yesterday.
The 66-year-old Italian, who quit as England boss in February, said he was happy to work in Russia.
“I am happy, if contract negotiations go well as I believe they will, it will be a wonderful adventure, as Russia is a great country,” he told Italian news agency ANSA.
Capello will succeed Dutchman Dick Advocaat, whose contract expired after Russia failed to advance past the group phase At Euro 2012.
The Russians had been hoping to reach at least the quarter-finals in Poland and Ukraine following their surprise run to the Euro 2008 semi-finals under Advocaat’s compatriot Guus Hiddink.
Upon returning home, the players faced heavy criticism from high-ranked politicians, media as well as ordinary fans.
“We had a good team but order and discipline was obviously missing,” Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said last week.
Capello, who has had success coaching top clubs such as Real Madrid, AC Milan, AS Roma and Juventus, had already received a glowing endorsement from Russia captain Andrei Arshavin.
“Russia’s national coach has been appointed - he is Fabio Capello. We wish him success in his new job,” Arshavin, widely considered the country’s most influential player, wrote on his personal website (www.arshavin.eu).
Russia picks Capello to rebuild national team
