Capello quits as England's soccer coach
Fabio Capello quit suddenly as England coach on Wednesday in a dispute over captain John Terry, throwing the national team's preparations for the European Championship into turmoil.
The Italian, whose contract was due to expire after Euro 2012, resigned during an hour-long meeting with Football Association executives at Wembley Stadium after four years in the job.
The drama unfolded hours after Tottenham manager, Harry Redknapp, who has long been considered Capello's likely successor, was cleared by a British jury of tax evasion.
The FA said nothing in its statement on Wednesday night about the process for replacing Capello.
"We have accepted Fabio's resignation, agreeing this is the right decision," FA Chairman David Bernstein said. "We would like to thank Fabio for his work with the England team and wish him every success in the future."
Bernstein publicly undermined Capello last week by not consulting him before taking the captain's armband from Terry, who is facing a racism trial. Capello criticized the decision on Italian television, insisting it was "absolutely" the wrong move.
Such a public spat with his employers appears to have made the 65-year-old Capello's position untenable.
"I would like to stress that during today's meeting and throughout his time as England manager, Fabio has conducted himself in an extremely professional manner," Bernstein said.
Capello replaced Steve McClaren in the job in 2008 and revived a team at its lowest ebb after failing to qualify for Euro 2008.
After a lengthy honeymoon following a perfect World Cup qualifying campaign, the aura of a once-renowned disciplinarian started to fade in South Africa in 2010.
Capello started to feel the kind of pressure he was used to when coaching Real Madrid and AC Milan, with his decision-making coming under serious scrutiny as England was eliminated with a 4-1 loss to Germany in the second round.
Capello clung onto his job, reviving the spirit in the England camp and starting to bring young talent into the team ahead of Euro 2012.
"The question everyone is asking, fans and players, where do we go from here?" England midfielder Jack Wilshere wrote on Twitter. "Euro's is just around the corner and we have no manager?!?"
Capello's record as England coach eclipsed that even of Alf Ramsey, whose 1966 World Cup triumph is still the last — and only — time the country has won a major tournament. Capello won 28 matches, lost six and drew eight — a 67 per cent success rate compared with Ramsey's 61 per cent.
England's next match is an exhibition against the Netherlands on Feb. 29 and its Euro 2012 opener is against France on June 11.
If an interim coach was to be appointed, former Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce already is in place in running the British Olympic and England under-21 teams.