<<Print>>

Fabio Capello has resigned as England manager, the Football Association has confirmed. Capello quit after a meeting with FA chairman David Bernstein and general secretary Alex Horne at Wembley. An FA statement read: "The Football Association can confirm that Fabio Capello has today resigned as England manager." On Monday, the Italian publicly challenged the FA's decision to strip John Terry of the captaincy. The FA's statement continued: "The discussions focused on the FA Board's decision to remove the England team captaincy from John Terry, and Fabio Capello's response through an Italian broadcast interview. "In a meeting for over an hour, Fabio's resignation was accepted and he will leave the post of England manager with immediate effect." Bernstein said: "I would like to stress that during [the] meeting and throughout his time as England manager, Fabio has conducted himself in an extremely professional manner. "We have accepted Fabio's resignation, agreeing this is the right decision. We would like to thank Fabio for his work with the England team and wish him every success in the future." A media conference with Bernstein and the Club England management team will take place at Wembley Stadium on Thursday at 1200 GMT. The FA will not be making any further comment until the media conference. Wednesday's meeting was the first time Capello had met the FA since their decision to remove the armband from Terry pending the outcome of his court case in July. Terry, 31, denies a charge of allegedly racially abusing QPR's Anton Ferdinand. On Sunday, Capello told Italy's state broadcaster RAI he did not believe someone should be punished by sporting authorities before a court had reached a verdict. "I thought it was right that Terry should keep the captain's armband," said the 65-year-old, whose first game in charge was on 6 February 2008, against Switzerland. "I have spoken to the [FA] chairman and I have said that in my opinion one cannot be punished until it is official and the court - a non-sport court, a civil court - had made a decision to decide if John Terry has done what he is accused of." It is understood England Under-21 head coach Stuart Pearce will be in charge for England's friendly against the Netherlands at Wembley on 29 February. FA head of elite development and former England defender Gareth Southgate said: "Stuart Pearce is in the building and with the under-21s. "But you have to think for the summer - can you get the person you want for the longer term? Because the leading candidates are with clubs at the minute." "Harry Redknapp is one of leading candidates but Tottenham will have something to say about that and Daniel Levy is not going to want Harry to leave without a fight, so there's an awful lot to work out in the next few weeks." Former England captain Alan Shearer said: "England should be managed by an Englishman and I would go along with Harry Redknapp as the outstanding candidate. He's a genius at motivating players." "Let's move on and get someone who wants to manage England in a major tournament. Managers come and go and you have to be professional as a player. "They'll want to put on the white shirt and go out there and play regardless of who's in charge." Another possible candidate to succeed Capello is West Brom manager Roy Hodgson, who was tipped to replace the Italian after the 2010 World Cup. However, before the FA made its decision, the vastly experienced Hodgson plumped for an ill-fated spell with Liverpool before moving on to the Hawthorns.