MOSCOW, July 30 (RIA Novosti) – Fabio Capello announced Wednesday that he will continue to coach Russia’s national football team, but said he would resign should his trust be lost.
“If I’m not trusted, I’ll resign, [the resignation] is ready, I’m a serious person,” Capello said during a press conference in Moscow.
He added that he would stay on with Russia since the Russian Football Union and the Sport Ministry trust him.
Italian-born Fabio Capello has been Russia’s head football coach since July 2012.
He led Russia into the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals, after the team failed to qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany and the 2010 championship in South Africa.
For the 2014 tournament in Brazil, Russia qualified first in Group H, leaving Portugal in second place. After that success, Fabio Capello got an offer to sign a new four-year contract with Russia’s national team.
Russian fans expected national team to reach the knockout stage as football pundits considered Group H to be one of the weakest in the championship.
However, fans’ hopes were dashed after Russia drew with South Korea and Algeria, and lost 1-0 to Belgium.
Russia’s elimination after the group stage in Brazil without winning a game prompted speculations that the Italian would be fired.
Capello has often been criticized in Russia for receiving an annual salary of about $12 million.
When Capello returned from Brazil, he was obliged to appear before the Russian parliament to explain the subsequent steps he would take to improve the team’s performance.
The 68-year-old coach has previously said the Russia job will be his last, so his main goal now is to improve Russia’s squad before they will host the 2018 tournament.
The 21st FIFA World Cup will take place in 2018 in Russia. The tournament will involve 32 national teams, including that of the host nation.
