Fabio Capello last night sensationally resigned as England manager, capping an extraordinary day on which Harry Redknapp was acquitted of tax evasion charges, clearing the way for him to succeed the Italian.
Capello’s resignation came after an hour-long meeting with Football Association chairman David Bernstein in which it became clear that the manager felt the decision to strip John Terry of the captaincy had rendered his position untenable.
Capello was furious at what he felt was the undermining of his position, and a restriction on his ability to shape the team as he saw fit. Bernstein had excluded Capello from deliberations over Terry’s role, placing the FA’s wider role as regulator above the short-term interests of the coach. Last night it left them without a manager and a captain four months before the start of Euro 2012.
Capello said: “I leave England and I will not say anything else.” When asked about the quotes attributed to him by an Italian news agency, he said they were “false”.
The FA is expected to ask under-21 coach Stuart Pearce to take charge as caretaker for the friendly against Holland on Feb 29, before beginning a considered search for a replacement. A press conference has been arranged for noon today at Wembley.
There was already a clamour for Redknapp last night. Wayne Rooney tweeted: “Gutted Capello has quit. Good guy and top coach. Got to be English to replace him. Harry Redknapp for me.” Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill said: “Harry is obviously the favourite and I think he should be. He deserves the opportunity, he should be the one.” 
Capello’s position had been in jeopardy since he gave an interview to Italian state television Rai on Sunday protesting at Bernstein’s decision to remove Terry. The interview posed a direct challenge to the FA chairman’s authority, which had been bolstered by his move against Terry following the adjournment of the Chelsea captain’s trial on charges of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand until after Euro 2012. Having taken that decision, and with the full support of the board to deal with Capello as he saw fit, Bernstein was not minded to back down, leaving a parting of the ways inevitable.
Capello’s position had been in jeopardy since he gave an interview to Italian state television Rai on Sunday protesting at Bernstein’s decision to remove Terry. The interview posed a direct challenge to the FA chairman’s authority, which had been bolstered by his move against Terry following the adjournment of the Chelsea captain’s trial on charges of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand until after Euro 2012. Having taken that decision, and with the full support of the board to deal with Capello as he saw fit, Bernstein was not minded to back down, leaving a parting of the ways inevitable.
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