Capello was target for England job

ROMA boss Fabio Capello has claimed he received an initial approach about becoming Kevin Keegan’s successor as England coach instead of Sven-Goran Eriksson.

The FA have always maintained Eriksson was their undisputed first choice for the post and have denied making any formal approach to any other candidate on their three-man shortlist.

However, Capello insists he was sounded out about his possible interest after Keegan left in October 2000, if not by the FA then at least by an intermediary claiming to be working on their behalf.

On the eve of Arsenal’s Champions League clash against his Roma side, the Italian revealed: ‘‘I was contacted about taking over the English national team. Someone asked me before they appointed Eriksson and I said ‘yes, why not?’ But they gave the job to Eriksson.’’

Capello, 56, the former AC Milan and Real Madrid coach who has won the Scudetto in Italy with two clubs, the Primera Liga in Spain and the European Cup.