So the 61 year old Italian, Fabio Capello, is the new England manager with a contract making him the highest paid manager on the International scene.
According to the Sunday Mirror he has signed an initial two and a half year deal worth some 4 million British pounds a year, rising by a further half million pounds each season thereafter.
So that, if he takes England to the World Cup in South Africa in 2010 and wins it, he could earn a total of 17 million pounds including bonuses. No wonder he has said that this is "the final crowning of my career."
He certainly has form at club level, having won titles with 4 different clubs; AC Milan, Roma, Juventus and most recently with Real Madrid. So he has proved he can build successful teams.
However, he has no International experience, although that did not stop 6 out of the 8 top football managers consulted by the FA Chief Executive Brian Barwick giving him the "thumbs up." I suspect, all the same, that Jose Mourinho was first choice until he ruled himself out.
So what does Capello bring? Well, his long-time sidekick Italo Galbriati for a start, and, he has said he wants to have ex-Chelsea Gianfranco Zola - who has been an assistant coach with Italy's under 21s - as his assistant. There is also some word that he would offer ex-Newcastle Alan Shearer some sort of backroom position.
Both could help Fabio understand the English football mentality and culture, which is vital if he is to stand any chance of turning England's fortunes around.
He has one great attribute which I believe gives a glimmer of hope for England. He is a very strict disciplinarian who does not believe in the cult of the individual or "star", rather the "collective." He would never have put up with the Beckham circus that has plagued several England managers in the past, for example.
There is a problem though: His teams have always been full of technically gifted players playing within the collective. It remains to be seen what he can do with the present crop of English stars who are not nearly as talented as the media would have us believe.
So, can he translate club success into International success for England? The FA seem to think so. Only time - and some new (real) talent coming through - will tell.
John Salter is the Editor of ClanFootball.com -- a new football website giving fans their say through a football fans forum and blog, with football news, results, club data, leagues and even the Laws of Football to keep fans fully informed.
Source: www.articlecity.com