The Italian job is next for Fabio Capello, but on TV rather than in the dugout

19 December 2010 00:18
Next step: Fabio Capello may move into punditry after the England job[LNB]Fabio Capello is more likely to become a television pundit than continue as a football coach when he finishes with England, his son Pierfilippo claimed last night.[LNB]Recently linked with a move to Manchester City, Capello has enjoyed a long-standing friendship with the club's owner, Sheik Mansour. [LNB]But rather than succeed City boss Roberto Mancini or Inter Milan's under-fire coach Rafa Benitez, the England manager actually harbours another ambition to be a football expert for Italian television.[LNB]In fact, he has already built an impressive reputation as a pundit there, having worked for several TV stations in the past and Pierfilippo, who acts as his father's agent, revealed last night: 'I think this television work may be the thing he wants to do most  after his job with England comes to an end in 2012.[LNB]'He worked regularly for RAI (the Italian equivalent of the BBC) about three years ago, on a show called 'Domenica Sportiva,' (Sport Sunday) when he was between coaching jobs. [LNB]'My father's contributions were well received because, instead of getting involved with petty controversies, he brought the conversation back to the football and made some really succinct comments on the technical aspects of the games. People liked that.'[LNB] Pedigree: Capello's previous stints in front of the microphone for Italian TV included covering the 1998 Copa America[LNB]Ironically, Capello's brief TV appearances in England have been less successful because his limited English brings with it a stilted tone. [LNB]He first discovered his talent for punditry in the Eighties when he worked for TeleMontecarlo, a station based in Monaco but beamed into Italian homes.[LNB]His success there earned him a trip to South America to cover the Copa America in 1998 after he had been sacked by AC Milan.[LNB]It seems unlikely that he will coach after the England job.[LNB]Indeed, a separate source claimed last night that Fabio was so serious about the prospect of further TV work that he might even turn down a desk job at a football club if he felt that the position would compromise his 'media neutrality and objectivity'. Steve Bruce EXCLUSIVE: I love Sunderland but I'd like to boss EnglandAre you sure, FIFA? England ranked sixth in the world despite woeful yearEngland seal Denmark friendly after failing to finalise Argentina clash[LNB]  Explore more:People: Rafa Benitez, Roberto Mancini, Fabio Capello Places: Monaco, Monaco, United Kingdom

Source: Daily_Mail