As England manager, Fabio Capello has stepped down.
Following a meeting with FA chairman David Bernstein and general secretary Alex Horne at Wembley Stadium, Capello submitted his resignation.
An announcement from the FA stated: ‘The Football Association can confirm that today, Fabio Capello has resigned as England manager.’
‘The discussions revolved around the FA board’s choice to revoke John Terry’s captaincy of the England team, and Capello’s reaction in an interview aired on Italian television.
‘After meeting for more than an hour, Fabio’s resignation was accepted, and he will immediately vacate the position of England manager.’
According to Bernstein, the resignation was a necessary move.
‘We have accepted Fabio’s resignation, agreeing that this is indeed the appropriate course of action. We extend our gratitude to Fabio for his service to the England team and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.’
A media conference with Bernstein and the Club England management team is scheduled for Thursday at noon at Wembley.
Capello’s unexpected resignation marks the conclusion of his four-year tenure with England— he was set to resign after the European Championship, leaving the FA in urgent need of finding a successor.
The next international match is scheduled for later this month, a friendly encounter against Holland on February 29 at Wembley.
The meeting’s timing nearly coincided with Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, the leading candidate to replace Capello, being acquitted of tax evasion accusations.
Capello expressed to Italian media that he ‘absolutely’ disagreed with the decision concerning Terry, setting him on a conflict course with the FA.
by Terence Johns
