Capello officially unveiled

Fabio Capello was officially unveiled as the new England manager today having signed a four-and-a-half-year contract last week worth £6.5m a year.

From the moment Steve McClaren was dismissed in the wake of England’s sorry failure to reach Euro 2008, FA chief executive Brian Barwick and director of football development Trevor Brooking pledged to scour the planet for a “world-class” replacement.

“I am delighted to welcome Fabio Capello as the new England manager,” said Barwick. “I think we have an outstanding man with an outstanding record and I look forward to working with him from January 7 next year.”

Capello spoke initially to the media conference in English, before taking questions in Italian.

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

“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 unofficially started work yesterday by watching Super Sunday (the televised games between Liverpool and Manchester United and Arsenal against Chelsea) but the official job will start on January 7. The main objective will be to meet the players and coaches of the English leagues. I am convinced this is a great team and can go right to the top.”

FA chief Barwick had earlier praised his new appointment and said: “He has coached and won titles with AC Milan, Juventus, Real Madrid and Roma, he has man-managed some of the world’s best players and he was also an international player of high repute himself.

“This is a significant appointment and we are delighted with the response from the public and the media. We know we owe the fans and we believe Fabio Capello is the man to restore our pride.”