Capello rules out quitting England

Fabio Capello has provided England with the perfect World Cup boost by committing his future to the team until after Euro 2012.

Capello's future had been the subject of intense speculation over the last few days after Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti admitted the 63-year-old was at the top of his shortlist to replace the departed treble-winning coach Jose Mourinho.

With a £9million-a-year salary on offer, a 50% increase on Capello's present £6million annual salary from the Football Association, it had been suggested the former AC Milan coach was being tempted.

However, having previously reached a verbal agreement with former FA chairman Lord Triesman to stay until after the next European Championships, by removing a clause in his current four-year deal that would allow either the Italian or his employers to activate a break following this summer's World Cup, Capello had indicated he was willing to stay.

He stuck to his mantra over the weekend, insisting he had not spoken to anyone at Inter about their vacancy.

Aware of the difficulty they had suddenly been placed in just before Capello and his players embark on their World Cup odyssey, the FA said privately they were eager to get the matter resolved before the England team flew out to their Rustenberg base this evening.

And, a matter of hours before Capello and his 23 players depart for the biggest challenge of their careers, the FA released the statement that allows everyone involved in the national team to breathe a large sigh of relief.

"The FA can confirm that Fabio Capello is committed to managing the England team until the 2012 European Championship," said an official FA statement.

"An amendment to his employment contract was signed and exchanged today, with break clause options for both the FA and Fabio being removed."

Club England chairman Sir Dave Richards had a telephone conversation with Capello on Monday while the coach was at his mother's home in Italy, reassuring him that the FA were fully supportive of the work he has done since replacing Steve McClaren in December 2007.

There was no circumstance under which the FA could envisage removing Capello from his post after the World Cup and they were keen for him to stay for the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, which begins against Bulgaria in September.

Richards said: "We are very pleased to have Fabio's commitment for another two years and it is good that we have been able to resolve this before the team flies to South Africa.

"Now we can all concentrate on the World Cup and give Fabio and the players our full support."

It has certainly been a busy few days for Capello.

The Italian finalised his 23-man squad yesterday, surprisingly deciding to axe Theo Walcott, who had been rated by most experts as a certainty to make the trip.

Now with his future sorted, Capello can begin tomorrow the preparations for the Group C opener against the United States on June 12 and the campaign he hopes will end at the World Cup final at Soccer City on July 11.

"I am very happy about this and would like to thank Sir David Richards and the FA for their continued support and assurances about my future," he said.

"I always wanted to stay until the end of my contract.

"In South Africa, we are totally focused on the World Cup."