MOSCOW: Fabio Capello is on the verge of becoming Russia’s new coach but it seems the Italian who won titles with AC Milan and Real Madrid is a second-choice signing for Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko.
“I think Capello has all the necessary requirements to coach the Russian national team, (but) personally I would prefer (Jose) Mourinho,” Mutko told Russian state television Rossia 2 on Wednesday.
The charismatic Mourinho is one of the most sought after coaches in world soccer but with the Portuguese committed to staying with Real Madrid, former Russian FA (RFU) chief Mutko hopes Capello will sign a contract within the next two days.
“Today or tomorrow we should iron out all the details so a contract could be signed before the start of the Russian Premier League (on Friday),” said Mutko.
Capello, who quit as England manager in February, is set to succeed Dutchman Dick Advocaat, whose contract expired after Russia failed to get past the group phase at Euro 2012.
Meanwhile, former national team manager Valery Gazzaev said appointing Italy’s Fabio Capello as Russia coach would kill off Russian coaching.
Gazzaev, who took CSKA Moscow to the 2005 UEFA Cup, noted he still had respect for former Russia coaches Advocaat and Guus Hiddink, both Dutchmen. “And I am on good terms with Fabio Capello, but I continue to consider idea of inviting a foreign coach to the national team of Russia as a wrong one,” Gazzaev said at a RIA Novosti news conference.
“With such appointments the Russian school of coaching is just being killed,” he said. “No matter how good a foreign specialist is, he can’t know the history of our football, its traditions; this is not a patriot (of Russia) at the end of the day.Foreign coaches in clubs – that’s fine. In the national team, no.”
Gazzaev is the second-most successful coach in the history of the Russian Premier League, having won four titles with CSKA and hometown side Alania Vladikavkaz, where he is now club president. (Agencies)