Rio fires parting shot at Capello; Redknapp 'not foregone conclusion'
Rio Ferdinand took a farewell swipe at Fabio Capello today as he joined Wayne Rooney in endorsing Harry Redknapp as his choice to become England’s new manager.
It comes as Keith Mills, a non-executive director at Tottenham, said the FA approaching Spurs manager Harry Redknapp about the England job is "not a foregone conclusion".
The Manchester United and England defender said the national team “don’t need anything else lost in translation”, an apparent dig at Italian Capello, whose poor command of the English language saw him face criticism during his four years in charge.
Capello dramatically quit last night following showdown talks with Football Association chairman David Bernstein at Wembley over the FA’s decision to go over his head and strip John Terry of the England captaincy.
The FA took their action after Terry’s trial for allegedly racially abusing Anton Ferdinand – Rio’s brother – was scheduled for July, after the Euro 2012 finals. Terry denies the offence.
Former England captain Ferdinand, who has turned down the chance to take over from Terry as national team skipper, believes Redknapp, his former West Ham boss, is the man best suited to succeed Capello.
He wrote on Twitter: “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.”
Tottenham boss Redknapp was cleared of tax evasion charges earlier yesterday.
Rooney wrote on Twitter last night: “Gutted capello has quit. Good guy and top coach. Got to be english to replace him. Harry redknapp for me.”
Former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton agreed, telling Sky News: “I think it’s maybe Harry’s time. He plays the game the right way.”
The FA will hold a press conference at 12pm today at which they are expected to provide more information on Capello’s departure.
Mr Mills said Tottenham, will wait to see what develops regarding Redknapp and the England job.
“I think we’re jumping the gun a little bit here,” Mills told BBC Radio Five Live.
“Whether Harry will be approached is not a foregone conclusion.
“If he is, then Harry has got a big decision to make.”
Former England manager Graham Taylor believes Redknapp is “made for the job” of leading the national team.
Taylor, who succeeded Bobby Robson as England manager after the 1990 World Cup but failed to steer the team to a place in the 1994 tournament, claims 64-year-old Redknapp has the ideal qualities for the position, and is at the right stage in his career.
The job has become available four months out from the Euro 2012 finals, and while Redknapp is involved in a Premier League title battle as manager of Tottenham.
Taylor told BBC Radio Five Live: “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.”
Taylor is struggling to see beyond Redknapp when it comes to likely candidates for the job.
“The public want him, the players want him, sections of the media want him, so that’s how it looks at the moment,” Taylor said.
And Taylor can see the England squad responding positively to the situation Capello’s departure has left them in.
“In a strange kind of way, having all of these problems I think will pull a squad together,” Taylor said.
“I think the squad as a whole have a better chance to do better than many people expect.
“I think there could be a surprise for us here.”
Speaking during a visit to Sweden, Prime Minister David Cameron said: “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.”
Asked if Redknapp should take over, he said: “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.”
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez feels England have lost a good manager whose brilliance will become apparent in time.
Martinez said: “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.”
Martinez believes Redknapp has the right qualities to succeed Capello.
He said: “He gets the best out of everyone and that is a great quality to have for a national team coach.
“Harry Redknapp is a special manager, a special man but only time will tell.”
Bolton manager Owen Coyle said: ``What (the FA) have to do now is make sure they get the right man for the job because I certainly believe England have a fantastic chance at the Euros.
“I can totally understand why the clamour would be for Harry Redknapp. I think when you look at the England squad, they have a terrific group of players who play at elite clubs and certainly know how the game needs to be played.
“They will have been coached at the very highest level for many, many years. In my opinion, what England need is somebody to go in and get that spirit together, that camaraderie and to be a motivator.
“Harry Redknapp ticks every box, and he also has fantastic football knowledge. When you put that all together, there is no doubt he is a complete package.
“The difficulty with that is that he has done such a fantastic job with Tottenham Hotspur. I have no doubt – for me, he would be the perfect choice, but I think Tottenham might have something to say about that.”
