English football must be hoping for rather more than a spicy Italian dish. True the jury will remain out on Fabio Capello but if England are looking for a new Messiah rather than the Mafia, they could do worse.

Fabio Capello became the latest coach to take the hot seat at England's headquarters and his pedigree is immaculate. He has won League titles wherever his travels have taken him and if a £6.5 million salary wins World Cups then Capello is the man.

Now we all remember the last foreign coach to lead the English national team. He was a saucy Swede with a colourful private life. His name was Sven-Goran Eriksson and Sven loved TV weather girls. In fact, Sven’s much-publicised sex romps gained more attention than his footballing prowess.

'He has won League titles wherever his travels have taken him and if a £6.5 million salary wins World Cups, then Capello is the man'


Sadly his dalliances in the bedroom were Sven’s undoing. Admittedly Eriksson did lead us to European Championship quarter-final and World Cup last eight. But dear Sven was just too quiet and repressed. In the dug out he was about as lively as a tortoise with arthritis.

Now a new chapter beckons for the England football team. Given Capello’s background, this could be the most inspired choice the FA bigwigs will ever make

He is far more animated on the touchline than Eriksson ever was and when it comes to speaking his mind, Capello could talk for either Italy or England.

If past Italian managers are any guide, then Capello could be a cross between Celtic's Gordon Strachan and Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson. This is not to suggest that Capello behaves like a mad dictator but you can be sure he won’t stand for any nonsense. When players aren’t pulling their weight, he will scream his disapproval.

The Italians are of course the current World Champions but some of us can still remember two other Italian legends. There was Enzo Bearzot, the misery guts who once denied England a place in the 1978 World Cup.

To say Bearzot had a face like a wintry morning would be an understatement. He sat on the boss’s bench lost in thought, wondering if the world had come to an end. Bearzot was a brilliant organiser of teams and Capello may think along the same lines.

Further back in time Vittorio Pozzo was a managerial genius with the Midas touch. During the 1930s Pozzo could do no wrong with his Italian teams. For the Italians he was a World Cup winner and, quite possibly another Capello role model.

So the scene is set for England to sing A Capello. At the moment English football is totally out of tune and longing for a break. With the World Cup qualifiers seemingly ages away, it is a time for sober reflection and a plate of spaghetti. Time indeed for the Italian job.