I was 'very close' to England: Capello

Real Madrid manager Fabio Capello has admitted he was urged to apply for the England job and that he was approached to be the new coach at Manchester United when Alex Ferguson revealed he planned to retire.

Capello tells the current issue of FourFourTwo magazine: “I was very close to England. I was asked some time ago, before they chose [Sven-Goran] Eriksson to go for the England job.”

He claims he did apply for the job and does not know why he was not short-listed.

“They didn’t choose me. You’ll have to ask the people who were there at the Football Association. I wouldn’t like to say.”

He also claims he was approached when Ferguson announced he would be leaving Old Trafford six years ago but then decided to stay.

“They made contact,” he tells the magazine.