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Russia offer England's Fabio Capello a lucrative deal
to move to Moscow
Luke Harding in Moscow
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Fabio Capello pictured at Stamford Bridge
before Chelsea played Manchester City, on the day he met the head
of the Russian FA. Photograph: Phil Cole/Getty Images
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The Russian Football Union has made an approach to Fabio
Capello about leaving England after the World Cup in South Africa and
taking up a new and highly lucrative position as coach of their national
team.
The new head of Russia's Football Union, Sergei Fursenko, flew to London
to pursue Capello last week. He held informal talks with the England manager
at Stamford Bridge last Saturday, meeting him during Chelsea's 4-2 home
defeat to Manchester City.
According to the Sovietsky Sport newspaper, Fursenko is keen for Capello
to replace Guus Hiddink, who is taking over as the national coach of Turkey.
The Dutchman's contract with Russia expires this June - with Russia now
determined to find a "big name" world-class coach to replace
him.
Capello is one of between five and eight candidates currently under consideration,
it is understood. The England manager responded politely to the Russian
approach last weekend in London, the newspaper reported, but made it clear
that any negotiations would have to be carried out via his agent.
It also claimed that Russia would be able to offer Capello more than his
present England salary. Although Capello is earning ?6m a year from the
FA, the sum is taxed at 50% - unlike in Russia where Hiddink receives
?7m (?6.3m) a year tax free.
Although Capello spoke in conditional terms last week about his continued
involvement with England after the World Cup, the Football Association
is certain he will stay on. In recent weeks he has spoken warmly of his
experience here and his spokesman said of the link with Russia: "Fabio
is under contract until 2012."
Russian observers believe that Capello is growing frustrated with the
media coverage of his players' private lives, and that his reputation
as a disciplinarian is just what the Russian squad needs following damaging
allegations of indiscipline during their unhappy World Cup qualifying
campaign.
The RFU has several other candidates on its list, among them the Italian
national coach, Marcello Lippi, and Luciano Spalletti, the former Roma
coach who is now manager of Zenit St Petersburg. Hiddink's last game as
national team manager took place on Wednesday with Russia drawing 1-1
against Hungary.
Guardian.co.uk,
4 March 2010
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