Fabio Capello must have thought Christmas had come a week early when the Football Association ratified a deal that made him the highest-paid national coach in the world.
When you’re talking telephone numbers it doesn’t really matter whether it’s £4.6 million (Dhs 34.1m) a year or £6m (Dhs 44.5m), as has been reported.
It certainly doesn’t appear to matter to FA chairman Brian Barwick. His cavalier response to those who questioned the length of Capello’s contract at Monday’s press conference was: “It’s important to realise that the FA’s gross income in the next four-and-a-half years may well be in excess of a billion pounds.”
So if you can afford it, that’s alright then, Brian.
Having only recently finished paying severance to Sven-Goran Eriksson — around £13,000 (Dhs 96,380) A DAY — the FA is now shelling out, admittedly significantly less, to his successor Steve McClaren who was fired only 15 months into his four-year contract.
The fact Glenn Hoddle, England’s best coach by a mile and currently unemployed, was paid £250,000 (Dhs 1.85m) annually when he held the post 10 years ago, puts these figures in perspective.
I just can’t get my head around why the authorities feel the need to dish out such long contracts.
The nature of the international football calendar is such that the obvious length of a contract should be two years. This is the qualifying period for the only major events England compete in: the European Championships and the World Cup.
Capello has been appointed because England failed to make it to Euro 2008, so he should have been offered a deal to take us through the World Cup 2010 qualifiers with an option to extend it on completion of the campaign at the end of 2009.
Never mind the £5m (Dhs 37m) Capello will trouser if England win the World Cup. What if they don’t qualify? Sack Capello and the FA will be throwing even more cash at another failed coach as they seek the next.
Oh yes, I forgot. Money doesn’t matter, right? Tell that to the fans who will have forked out upwards of 50 quid to watch England at Wembley (not to mention another 20 for burger and chips) Mr Barwick.
Don’t get me wrong; Capello was the outstanding candidate for the job. His track record in club football, winning titles at each of his four clubs, Roma, AC Milan, Juventus and Real Madrid, is second to none in the modern game.
I was disappointed Jose Mourinho didn’t fancy it, although his motives remain questionable after the way he teased us, but I’m not unhappy Capello is now in charge.
The Italian has shown he does not suffer egos gladly and it will be fascinating, if not enjoyable, to see England’s ‘stars’ told some home truths.
Discipline is key in football; England need it and Capello can provide it. His first line-up against Switzerland on February 6 is eagerly awaited.
According to my old man, Capello is a dead ringer for former British comedian Tommy Cooper. Rabbits and hats are certainly the order of the day.
The bleating of the nation’s ‘football men’ who have bemoaned the fact the FA could not find a native to fill the post has been predictable.
Former internationals and current club bosses Gareth Southgate, Paul Ince and Steve Coppell have been among the many who have opposed Capello’s appointment.
‘What does it say to all the English managers out there when we give our top job to a foreigner?’ is the natives’ line.
Well, it says that, like our players, you’re not good enough. Go abroad, coach and learn how the continentals do it – then come back and beat them at their own game, just like they have been beating us at ours for the last 60 years.
