Players, managers, officials and pundits have all joined the press in having their say on Fabio Capello.
The sensational news that broke yesterday evening has put the football community in a frenzy, with players, managers, officials and pundits alike all joining the press in having their say on Fabio Capello. Here, we catalogue a broad selection of viewpoints that best capture the pervading mood over the toughest job in football...
The managers
Martin O'Neill: "If there is anybody to succeed Fabio Capello it is Harry Redknapp. (Redknapp) has earned the right to do so and I think Harry Redknapp will be the next England manager and he deserves to be so."
Neil Warnock"I'm delighted. I only saw them failing at the Euros with him. There's nobody else other than Harry Redknapp [to replace him]. It's a long time since England had a man everybody agrees with and who can get the best out of the team. He brings humour to the dressing room and that has been missing in Fabio's time. It's possible for Harry to do it part-time until then but that depends on Tottenham. [Euro 2012] with Harry will be something to look forward to."
Alan Pardew: "Firstly as an Englishman, I am proud to be in that sort of frame, but it's not for me and I will make that quite clear. I am not even in the running as far as I am concerned."
Roberto Martinez: "We are all aware of what happened in the World Cup and everyone tries to highlight that, but the reality is the England team has shown an incredible progression since Fabio Capello arrived. In the qualifying games to the World Cup and the Euros you have seen a team that is capable of doing big things in big tournaments and I am sure Fabio Capello is going to get the credit he deserves once he is not in the job any longer."
(Juventus coach) Antonio Conte: "I am saddened. I have great respect and admiration for Capello, a coach that has achieved important things. It's a grave loss for England."
(Catania coach) Vincenzo Montella: "Considering the motivations behind this decision, you can understand his choice. Obviously, he has felt that his authority has been undermined and didn't feel the trust was there any more."
The players
Rio Ferdinand: "I think we need an English manager now, we don't need anything else lost in translation....Harry Redknapp would be my choice by a distance.
Joey Barton: "No captain and no manager. 4 months from a major championship. What's going on......."
Wayne Rooney: "Gutted capello has quit. Good guy and top coach. Got to be english to replace him. Harry redknapp for me."
Michael Owen: "Don't know if was just me but it never felt right in the first place knowing the England Manager was heading off after the Euros regardless."
Glen Johnson: "Sad news to see Capello step down. Good man and a good manager."
Kyle Walker: "Gutted to see Capello go, he put trust in me and gave me my first cap, just want to say a big thanks."
Jack Wilshere: "Shocked about news on Fabio Capello... gutted to be honest, gave me my first cap and believed in me. He has shown great belief and trust in me so I can only thank him....massive influence on my career so far. Sad to see him go."
The pundits
Gary Neville: "No one likes to see a manager sacked or resign but for the good of English football that now they can move forward with a sense of excitement. I think there has been too much negativity surrounding the team and it was the right decision."
Alan Smith: "I think there is only one man for the job! Now considering the day Harry Redknapp had on Wednesday I doubt the FA have had a chance to square things with him and ask him what he felt about it. But Harry would appear to be the only man in the ring. You don't know what the FA are thinking - perhaps Trevor Brooking and Stuart Pearce to see us through the next three friendlies."
Barry Fry: "I can't believe any Englishman wants a foreigner as manager of our country, I can't believe there is one out there! We want an Englishman full of passion and commitment. We've had enough of these foreigners, they ain't got no passion, no commitment. All they want is the money. Englishman in charge of England."
Graham Taylor: "I just think that taking the England job is far better when you're coming towards the end of your career than when you're a young man. I think Harry is in many respects made for the job."
Terry Venables: "He should have swallowed his pride and channeled the anger, we've tried a couple of overseas managers. Let's be honest, they have not worked. We must return to basics. Our roots. Home-grown managers. "
Roy Keane: "Wayne should keep his nose out of it. He didn't do enough on the pitch when Capello was manager. Wayne should concentrate on being a player and not on who he wants as England manager."
Alan Shearer: "England should be managed by an Englishman and I would go along with Harry Redknapp as the outstanding candidate. He's a genius at motivating players."
Danny Mills: "He's obviously decided enough's enough and walked out. He's almost dropped England right in it."
Gary Lineker: "HR the man if he wants it. He can do both jobs til May."
Paul Gascoigne: "I've had to turn the job down myself because I've got a busy schedule at the moment."
The officials
David Bernstein: "I am very pleased to announce that Stuart Pearce will manage the England team for the Holland match. He has huge experience outside and inside this organisation and of course he manages the England U21 team and has been working with Fabio for some time. He knows the players very well. I have got great confidence in Stuart. We will be in good hands."
Gareth Southgate: "There's an awful lot to work out in the next few weeks."
David Davies: "My instinct is that someone like Harry Redknapp ultimately will not want to turn down the job of England manager and my instinct is that Tottenham Hotspur ultimately will not want to stand in his way."
(Football League chairman) Greg Clarke: "What the FA has needed for a long time is strong, ethical leadership. David Bernstein is now delivering that leadership and he has my full support."
(Tottenham director) Sir Keith Mills: "Harry needs to make a decision whether he'd like the job or to stay at Tottenham. I'm sure Harry won't be the only candidate. Whether Harry's approached or not is not a forgone conclusion."
David Bernstein: "I have been asked this question consistently and the position hasn't changed. There is a preference for an English person, or a British person. But, at the end, we want the best person. We aren't prepared to rule out anything at this stage. Clearly, an English or British person would have a good start on the matter."
The Press
Oliver Holt (The Daily Mirror): "He did have a fine record in qualifying but there is little point in reaching major tournaments if you fall apart when you get there. That was the pattern for the World Cup and it was beginning to look suspiciously as if it would be the pattern for Euro 2012, too. It never quite felt as if his heart was in the England job. Perhaps it was something to do with his failure to learn the language and the fact that he never really seemed to understand the mentality of English players. The news of his resignation is a boost for England. It's just a shame he didn't quit earlier."
Henry Winter (The Daily Telegraph): In truth, Capello should have gone after England's short and hapless visit to South Africa for the 2010 World Cup but his employers lacked courage. The FA's new chairman, David Bernstein, has demonstrated greater boldness in calling Capello to task over his blinkered commitment to John Terry. Capello stamped his feet like a stroppy child denied a sweet and eventually stormed off in a huff yesterday."
Steven Howard (The Sun): "So he's gone - and not before time. After being paid £24million in four years, you might have thought Fabio Capello might have learned the language. But he couldn't even do that. Though he did have enough grasp of the swear words to sit yelling at his players from the bench in South Africa."
Martin Samuel (Daily Mail): "Ultimately, Capello quit over a basic point of principle, and not anything as grand as innocent until proven guilty, either. He left over the principle that the football man does the football. At the very least he gets consulted about it. At the very least, he is invited to be part of the discussion and is not made to look a fool. If the FA could now secure Redknapp, some would claim this is all for the best."
Matt Dickinson (The Times): This is the ritual cycle of the England football manager. There was delight in the removal of Fabio Capello last night, just as there is every time England shed the man in charge of the national team. We rejoice in their departure and, yes, even in the case of Kevin Keegan, welcome the new messiah."
Sam Wallace (The Independent): "There are many reasons to be disillusioned with the state of English football. The lack of home-grown players coming through. The distance the country lags behind countries such as Spain in producing high-quality, technically accomplished players. But to quit over the FA taking a stand that it was inappropriate for the England team to be led by a man on a charge of racial abuse is a pathetic waste."
And finally...
David Cameron: "I am sorry to see Fabio go. I think he was a good coach and a good man. I don't think he was right about the John Terry issue. You can't be captain with that question mark that needs to be answered. The day when the Prime Minister picks the England coach will be a very bad day for football but I am sure we will find someone really good and I am sure that we will play well when the time comes."
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