Fabio Capello

Fabio Capello was born in San Canzian d'Isonzo (Gorizia-Friuli) on June 18, 1946.

Source Wikipedia

He started playing football with local club Pieris and then in 1962 joined the youth setup of his first professional club, SPAL from Ferrara.

In 1963 he joined the first team and stayed four seasons. The Estensi were in Serie A but got relegated, won promotion and then finished 15th and 12th in A. Capello played a total of 54 games with 4 goals (3 in A-Napoli, Inter and Venezia). In his last season he suffered from knee problems. His managers were Giacomo Blason, G.B Fabbri and Francesco Petagna (for almost three seasons). His teammates included Lazio connections: future manager Edy Reja (2010-12, 2014) and forward Orlando Rozzoni (1959-61, 1962-64, 1965-66).

In 1967 he joined Roma and stayed three seasons. The Giallorossi finished 10th, 8th and 10th. In his first season he continued to have physical problems but then played regularly. In 1969 they won the Coppa Italia and in 1970 reached the Cup Winners Cup semi-finals. He played a total of 90 games with 18 goals (11 in A). The managers were Oronzo Pugliese and then Helenio Herrera for two seasons. His teammates included Lazio connections Vito D'Amato (1963-67), Ciccio Cordova (1976-79) and Luciano Spinosi (assistant to Sven-Goran Eriksson 1997-2000 and then technical collaborator 2000-2004).

In 1970 Capello signed for Juventus. He stayed six seasons in Turin, winning the Scudetto three times (1972, 1973, 1975). He played a total of 240 games with 41 goals (27 in A). His managers were Armando Picchi, Čestmír Vycpálek (for three and a half seasons), Carlo Parola (for two seasons). He played alongside Lazio connections Nando Viola (1976-77, 1978-82), Giorgio Mastropasqua (1980-82), Vincenzo Chiarenza (1981-82, 1983), Oscar Damiani (1985-86), Dino Zoff (manager, 1990-94, 1997, 2001) and Luciano Spinosi again.

In 1976 he signed for A.C Milan where he stayed four seasons. The Rossoneri won a Scudetto (1979) and a Coppa Italia (1977). He played a total of 87 games with 9 goals (4 in A). His managers were Giuseppe Marchioro, Nereo Rocco, Nils Liedholm for two seasons and then former Lazio player Massimo Giacomini. In his years with Milan the squads included Lazio connections Massimo Silva (1972), Alberto Bigon (1980-82) and Stefano Chiodi (1980-81, 1982-83)

In 1980 Milan finished 3rd but like Lazio they were punished with relegation to Serie B for their involvement in the Calcioscomesse scandal (betting and match fixing). At this point Capello retired at 36.

With Italy he won 32 caps and scored 8 goals (including the winner at Wembley in 1973). He played in the 1974 World Cup (scoring against Poland).

A successful playing career but he was then even more successful as a manager.

He started in 1981 with the Milan youth teams and won a Primavera Coppa Italia in 1985.

Source Wikipedia

In April 1987 he took over the first team due to Liedholm's deteriorating health. He then returned in 1991 and stayed another five seasons. He won the Scudetto four times (1992, 1993, 1994, 1996), a Champions League (1994, Barcelona 4-0), a UEFA Super Cup (1994) and the Italian Supercoppa three times (1992, 1993 and 1994). His players included Milan legends: Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini, Carlo Ancelotti, Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard, Marco Van Basten, Dejan Savićević, Marc Desailly, Zvonimir Boban, George Weah just to name a few. He also coached Lazio connections Mauro Tassotti (1976-80), Paolo Di Canio (1987-90, 2004-06), Diego Fuser (1992-98), Demetrio Albertini (2003-04)

In 1996 he was called to be Real Madrid manager. He stayed with the merengues one season and won the Liga. He left due to problems with Florentino Perez.

He then returned to Italy and Milan. It was a poor year for the Rossoneri who finished 10th and also lost the Coppa Italia final to Lazio.

In 1999 he signed for Roma and stayed five seasons. The Giallorossi finished 6th, 1st, 2nd, 8th and 2nd. In 2001 therefore, he won a historic 3rd league title for Roma who also won the 2001 Supercoppa.

In 2004 he returned to another club where he had played, Juventus. He won the scudetto twice but both times it was later taken away from them due to the Calciopoli scandal. The 2005 scudetto went unawarded while the following year the Bianconeri were punished with relegation to Serie B.

Capello left and in 2006 went back to the blancos in Madrid and won La Liga again. In the Champions league however the Madridistas went out in the last 16 to Bayern Munich. A month after the end of the season Capello was sacked due to disagreements with Ramón Calderon.

He then was chosen as the new England manager. He was in charge of the Three Lions from 2007 to 2012. He oversaw 42 games with 28 wins, 8 draws and 6 defeats. He led England to and at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. England reached the last 16 but were beaten 4-1 by Germany. He then qualified for the 2012 Euros but resigned in February 2012 over the FA stripping John Terry of the captaincy due to his alleged racist behaviour towards Anton Ferdinand.

In the summer of 2012 Capello then became manager of Russia. He qualified for the 2014 World Cup but did not make it past the group phase (D2, L1). He was then initially confirmed but then replaced in the summer of 2015. His final stats were: won 17, drew 11 and lost 5.

In June 2017 Capello then went to China and joined Jiangsu Sunning. He finished 12th in the league. The following season after only 3 league games his contract was interrupted by mutual consent. On April 9, 2018 he announced his retirement from management.

He then went back to being a TV pundit. He had already started in 1983 and had continued on and off even during his time as manager. He now works for Sky Sport.

As a player Capello was a midfield playmaker. He had good feet and organised the game in a simple but intelligent manner. He was a strong character, a born leader.

Leadership qualities which he then used in a highly successful career as a manager. He won 7 league titles, a Champions League, a UEFA Super Cup and 4 Italian Supercoppe.

A trophy laden career both as a player and as a manager.

Sources

Wikipedia