Ruud awakening for stars

Gullit warns England they will get tough customer

Last updated: 12th December 2007

Ruud awakening for stars

Tough talking: Fabio Capello will tell the England players straight

You don't see him (Capello) laughing much - he's moody. But he knows what he wants. You have to go his way or you will get in trouble. He screams at you.

Ruud Gullit.
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FACTFILE

1946: Born in San Canzian d'Isonzo, Gorizia, Italy.
1964: Makes his professional debut for Ferrara side SPAL, beginning a playing career in which he also represented Roma, Juventus, AC Milan and earned 32 caps for Italy.
1991: Appointed head coach of AC Milan.
1992: Wins first of three successive Italian league titles.
1993: Guides Milan to Champions League final, where they are beaten 1-0 by Marseille.
1994: Milan reach the Champions League final again, this time beating Barcelona 4-0. They later add the European Super Cup.
1996: Leaves Milan after winning a fourth Scudetto in five seasons and is appointed Real Madrid coach.
1997: Wins Spanish league title with Real, before returning for a second spell with Milan.
1998: Fired after unsuccessful return to Milan.
1999: Takes over as coach of Roma.
2001: Guides Roma to their first Scudetto for 18 years and only the third in their history.
2004: Leaves Roma to take over as Juventus coach, winning the Scudetto in his first season.
2006: May - Retains Scudetto with Juventus but they are later stripped of the title after match-fixing allegations.
July - Resigns and returns to Real Madrid.
2007: January - Sanctions the departures of Ronaldo and David Beckham.
June - Real Madrid celebrate their first league title since 2003 but is sacked on June 28.
November - Declares his interest in becoming England manager.

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Ruud Gullit insists Fabio Capello is a winner but warned fans he does not play "for the beauty of the game".

Capello is reported to be flying into London on Wednesday for talks with the Football Association with a view to succeeding Steve McClaren as national team boss.

Dutchman Gullit, who played under Capello at AC Milan in the 1990s, is confident the 61-year-old Italian will be a success as England boss but does not expect it to be easy on the eye.

"He doesn't play for the beauty of the game but to win," the Dutchman said.

"You don't see him laughing much - he's moody. But he knows what he wants. You have to go his way or you will get in trouble. He screams at you.

"You need to be well drilled to play for him - very disciplined - and you certainly don't fool around with him, that's for sure."

Gullit insists the initial focus for Capello would be making sure England are watertight defensively.

"Italians are all about looking good, defending your reputation. When you've got that you become very hard to beat. If you become that clinical, you don't even have to play well to win - that's how come they have won so many championships."

Tough

AC Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf, who played under Capello at Real Madrid when they won the Spanish league title in 1997, concurs with Gullit that the Italian is a no-nonsense boss.

"He's a tough guy, very straight. He's very dedicated. Of course it has been quite a while since I worked with him in Madrid, but I think he has much more experience now than 10 years ago," Seedorf said.

"He was then already one of the best coaches I've ever had."

World Cup winner Dino Zoff has also warned England's stars they will need to perform.

The goalkeeping great told The Sun: "If any England player fails to show enough guts with Capello as manager he will just find another player straightaway.

"Capello will carry on getting the very best out of players as he has always done with all types.

Inspires

"Capello has shown enough flair to win wherever he has been and he inspires quicker than any other manager. He would be a great acquisition for England."

Former Italy coach Arrigo Sacchi feels his fellow countryman can turn England into world beaters.

He said: "I think Capello is really ideal for this job. If England are capable of winning something I truly believe Capello is the man who will bring it out of them.

"If there are primma donnas to deal with, there is no one better in the world at dealing with them."

Ray Wilkins, who worked with Capello at Milan, believes there is a human touch beneath the steely exterior.

"He's an aggressive person; he always told it as he saw it," Wilkins told the Daily Mail.

"In training he got what he wanted. He wanted you to work, that's what you're there for anyway, but he has a great sense of humour."

Comments (14)

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Collins Enabu (arsenal fan) says...

Thats is the Problem with England, they will always try to make every small thing big!!!!!!! I truly believe Capello has a good track record as a manager but i don't think he will deliver the goods in England. First England have only John Terry and Wayne Rooney who they believe are the best players in the world and everyone wants them to play in each game, if there not playing England are will loose! What do you think this does to other players? England as a country should first believe in all your players and stop hyping a few. Then lastly get a men like Gattuso, Tal Ben Haim, Zidane, Inzaghi who are hard and always want to win matches that's the spirit players should have not alcohol and Sex!!!!.

Posted 10:39 14th December 2007

Chris Mitchell (Manchester United fan) says...

If Capello is the perfect candidate for an international managers' job, why haven't the Italians put him in charge of their national side?

Posted 01:39 13th December 2007

Andy Neill (Portsmouth fan) says...

With Redknapp & Mourinho out of the runnings, it would be criminal for the FA not to pay the price for Capello. He is more then qualified for the position, and the FA need to pull their fingers out.

Posted 17:12 12th December 2007

Alan Thorburn (Manchester United fan) says...

Bet the FA do not get Capello, they won`t pay the price!

Posted 15:02 12th December 2007

Jon Doe says...

That comment about Capello being past it, is waaayyyyy oover the top, its obvious that you have been sleeping under a rock for the past 2 years. Literally. Probably the only man that could havet taken a massive team like Madrid and give them a good reality check is Capello, and knock the stuffing out of Mr model Beckham, and explain to him that he was in Madrid for football, and not for status!! Not even Alex Ferguson could have done that, Have some RESPECT for the Big MAN CAPELLO!

Posted 13:51 12th December 2007

Carl Laidler (Newcastle United fan) says...

Exactly what England needs a manager with a back bone! For far too long the England team seems to have been run by player influence and spineless managers, who try to keep everyone happy. Its about time we had a manager who isn't scared of upsetting people with his training and selection methods. i like the philosophy of if you don't like it then you can go home. COME ON CAPELLO

Posted 12:48 12th December 2007

Yelra Namtort says...

Saying that Capello is "past it" is one of the strangest things I've ever heard!! As for the so called Beckham fiasco, I think it was more a case of the player not performing. So he got dropped. I think we (England) should be crying out for a manager with a 'proven' track record, who won't suffers some of these big egos lightly and will get the best out of everyone!! Get this one right please Barwick & friends!!

Posted 12:17 12th December 2007

David Lees (Manchester United fan) says...

Capello will bring a new style of football thats needed to bring the world cup back to England The italian style. They play hard at the back and don't conceded many goals, then they work forward. Its not attractive football but it wins games and brings them trophies. Everyone needs to stop expecting England to win glamorously, like beating Andorra 6-0 for example, its about scraping out the results that see us into semi-finals and finals. Capello will bring this to England and im sure he will put pride back into playing for England

Posted 11:13 12th December 2007

Phil Leyland says...

Spot on, Capello or someone like him is exactly what England need. A Manager who will not pick players on reputation and will give the prima donnas in the squad a good kicking. It was no fluke that Beckham suddenly started playing better when he was told to play for his place.

Posted 10:59 12th December 2007

Tarik Beshir (Chelsea fan) says...

Success is never guaranteed no matter who the coach is...at the end of the day he's a coach and his job ends in the technicsl area and the days leading up to a game...after that it is the players who must go out and deliver the tactics and the performance. But with Capello there will sure be a focus and a clear vision and direction for the team..i think appointinh him will guarantee england's qualification to the next world cup...anything after that is own to the players and a lot of luck....exciting times i think.

Posted 10:52 12th December 2007

John Salifu (Manchester United fan) says...

Fabio Capello is the right man considering the situation of the English team at the moment. The FA should not waste anytime and sign him on if the English team is to have an impact on world soccer as it did some years back.

Posted 10:39 12th December 2007

Reshad Sergeant (Newcastle United fan) says...

How can Capello be past it when only last year he took an overrated Real Madrid side to the championship for the first time in years and gave Beckham a kick up the backside to make him start playing football again? Think before making stupid comments!

Posted 10:04 12th December 2007

Jordan Brown (Sheffield United fan) says...

Fabio Capello should be the England manager without doubt, he's won more trophies than anyone else in contention for the job and is a much better manager, and he will also have the bottle to drop the useless suposed word class players who consistantly perform like league two players, and will also play more upcoming players like Lennon.

Posted 09:54 12th December 2007

Mick Pye (Portsmouth fan) says...

Capello is past it, yet another 'has been' that has a temper tantrum if he doesn't get his own way. (see beckam fiasco). We do not need another Brooking / Barwick 'yes' man we need leadership - Capello isn't that man.

Posted 09:15 12th December 2007
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