Capello installed as Russia coach
Monday, July 16, 2012
Article summary
Ex-England manager Fabio Capello will guide Russia to the 2014 FIFA World Cup after being appointed as national team coach to fill the post left vacant by Dick Advocaat.
Article top media content
Article body
Former England manager Fabio Capello has been confirmed as Dick Advocaat's successor as coach of the Russian national team.
The appointment of the 66-year-old was announced on Monday by Russian Football Union (RFS) caretaker president Nikita Simonyan, who said: "We believe that he or his representatives will come to Moscow in the coming days to finalise the conditions of the deal and sign the contract. It should happen on Wednesday or Thursday."
Advocaat announced a month before UEFA EURO 2012, where Russia failed to progress beyond the group stage, that he would step down after the finals to take charge of PSV Eindhoven for a second time. Capello resigned from his England post in February after four years in the job, during which time he led the team to the last 16 of the 2010 FIFA World Cup and also secured qualification for the European showpiece, where Roy Hodgson took charge and reached the quarter-finals.
Cepello's main goal now is to ensure 2018 World Cup hosts Russia, who last qualified in 2002, reach the next edition of the tournament in Brazil by emerging from a section which begins in September and comprises Portugal, Israel, Northern Ireland, Azerbaijan and Luxembourg. His first match will be a friendly against Ivory Coast in Moscow on 15 August.
He brings a track record of success to the role, having won four Serie A titles and the 1994 UEFA Champions League with AC Milan and a further Scudetto with AS Roma. Capello also guided Real Madrid CF to the Liga championship in each of his two spells at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu.