Publisher's Synopsis
Including all England's World Cup qualifying matches from 2008, this is the compelling story of one of football's most enigmatic and controversial figures - from his early days in Italy as the son of a football loving concentration camp survivor, right through to his challenging time as manager of England. Arrogant and inspired, this hard man had a dream - to coach the Three Lions to the top of the world. Seduced by the chance to lead England to World Cup glory for the first time since 1966, his reign would be full of drama from the start. Had he inherited a poisoned chalice, or could he show that he had what it took to fulfil his ambition? Mark Ryan's powerful book lifts the lid on Capello's eventful life, from cliff-diving as a four-year-old to the day when, as a player, he turned on his Juventus teammates and almost wrecked his rise to the top. He recalls the sweetest and most bitter moments of a colourful playing career which saw him star in a World Cup, step out for a European Cup final, and bear some responsibililty for the introduction of the dreaded penalty shootout. The author reveals just how close Capello came to taking over England in 2000 and Manchester United in 2002. Fabio's coaching career, with its successes, troubles and amazing secrets, is charted from his early days at AC Milan through to his sales pitch to the FA as he sought to land the England job. Drawing on exclusive interviews and extensive research, we also glimpse Capello the family man and the art collector, learn why he burst into tears in front of TV millions, discover his shocking words to his AC Milan players moments before they went out and won the Champions League, and his reasons for dropping then reinstating David Beckham with Real Madrid and England. Going into England's early World Cup qualifying campaign for South Africa 2010, Ryan reveals the man behind the image, and the pressure that goes with the toughest job in football.
