Capello's final decision is his best

London: Light the beacons across the land, let the church bells ring out with joy and record in the annals of history that Fabio Capello's final decision as England manager proved to be his best. England were stagnating. On his watch. On £6 million (Dh34.9 million) a year.

It was time for Capello to go. It's time for the FA to go for Harry Redknapp. In truth, Capello should have gone after England's short and hapless visit to South Africa for the 2010 World Cup, but his employers lacked courage. The FA's new chairman, David Bernstein, has demonstrated greater boldness in calling Capello to task over his blinkered commitment to John Terry.

Capello stamped his feet like a stroppy child denied a sweet and eventually stormed off in a huff on Wednesday. Any mourning will be brief. His flaws were obvious. He failed to grasp fully either the English language or the unique psychology of the English professional.

He did not respond to the players' preference for a 4-3-3 system at the World Cup, sticking to tactics that left England so vulnerable in the middle. He overlooked the credentials of the country's most in-form goalkeeper, Joe Hart.

Some sympathy is due the departing Italian. He cannot be held accountable for the wretched reality that the players feel weighed down by expectation when donning the England shirt, that the lack of a winter break means the lions of autumn are lambs by the summer, that clubs are so powerful and that the schoolboy development system is light-years behind the likes of Germany and Spain.

Yet Capello showed little interest in addressing the long-term problems bedevilling the national game. His job was to produce a winning first XI but he could have spared more thought for the future. He had enough free time. What became clear during a momentous day for England is that Capello was fast running out of friends at Wembley while Redknapp was rapidly gaining admirers.

Accused to acclaimed

Even though the FA has appointed Stuart Pearce caretaker for the friendly with Holland on February 29, Redknapp could easily take charge for the Euros, starting with the warm-ups against Norway on May 26 and Belgium on June 2. Tottenham's season will be over by then and the FA must be mindful of not disrupting their pursuit of the Champions League.

If managers were floated on the Capello Index, Wednesday was a day for buying Redknapp stock and offloading Capello. Redknapp experienced an extraordinary day, going from the accused to the acclaimed. He started in Southwark, the life-stripped-bare nature of the courtroom chilling to behold for an observer, let alone for an innocent man caught in the icy grip of legal proceedings.

Tears, hugs and sighs of relief accompanied the "not guilty" verdicts. As Redknapp stepped out of court a free man, Capello was driven in to see Bernstein. It is the truism universally acknowledged that England managers tend to be the antithesis of their predecessor — Redknapp for Capello would certainly maintain that tradition of the post-Bobby Robson era.

Spurs would fight any push for Redknapp, whether now or after the Euros. No wonder. A fine manager, an inspiring motivator and organiser of players, is steering Spurs once again into the Champions League. On the steps of court, Redknapp thanked his chairman, Daniel Levy, and some semblance of loyalty might be expected in return, although this is football.

A strong pull

It would still be a wrench for Redknapp. He loves being on the training ground every day, being around football people, bantering with players and staff, but England, even with its strange rhythm of slow, slow, quick, quick, slow, will be a strong pull. Redknapp is a patriot, a man who loves recalling how he played alongside Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters at West Ham. A picture of Moore hangs in his office. He never represented England, reflecting that "when Alf Ramsey came in, wingers went out!" but he would relish the chance to shape their destiny from the dugout.

The attraction to the FA of Redknapp is that he would tackle the greatest problem inhibiting England: fear. His style of management is to remove any psychological blockages, releasing the player to express himself. It's his engaging personality, his appreciation that players are flesh and blood, not robots.

Before kick-off, Redknapp stands in front of players and tells them why no opponent can live with them. Over the past years, Redknapp has observed frequently that the national team position is "a job that any Englishman would find hard to turn down" but also noted that it was "not a bundle of fun" because of the "massive pressure".

He himself criticised Capello following the Italian's first game in 2008. Redknapp might not change many of the players in Capello's team but he would change the mood. A Redknapp England would certainly brim with pace. His Spurs right-back, Kyle Walker, is a flier. He tried hard to sign Ashley Young in 2010 and became very aware and impressed by a young Theo Walcott. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's rise could alter thoughts out wide.

Redknapp is associated with the so-called Golden Generation, players like his old West Ham starlets Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard and Joe Cole, but he knows time has moved on. It's time for change, although the likes of Steven Gerrard, Scott Parker and Ashley Cole could have another qualifying campaign in them.

— Telegraph Group Limited London , 2012

Harry Redknapp

The Spurs boss is the front runner for the job after being widely tipped to replace Capello for several months.

Redknapp has never hidden his desire to coach England and, while it was originally thought he would have to wait until after Euro 2012 — when the Italian was due to step down — he may get his wish earlier than expected. The Englishman's chances were greatly boosted when he was cleared of charges of tax fraud just hours before Capello's resignation.

Roy Hodgson

After managing Switzerland and Finland the West Bromwich Albion boss has plenty of international experience and his spells at Inter Milan and Liverpool have given him an insight into the tricky demands of dealing with top stars.

Hodgson earned great respect for his work at Fulham, where he led the unfashionable club to the Europa League final in 2010, and would fit the FA's desire for a statesman-like figure. However, his failure to last even a season at Liverpool is a black mark and he doesn't have the charismatic personality of Redknapp or Mourinho.

Jose Mourinho

The Special One has remained a firm admirer of English football since leaving Chelsea in 2007 and sources close to the Real Madrid boss say he is keen to return to England soon.

Unlike Capello, the Portuguese speaks perfect English and his strong personality would allow him to control the egos in the England dressing room. His CV — which includes Champions League triumphs with Porto and Inter Milan and league titles in England, Italy and Portugal — is beyond compare. The only question is would the FA be willing to deal with his occasional controversial outbursts.

Alan Pardew

Just two years ago Pardew was licking his wounds after being sacked as boss of League One club Southampton. Now he finds himself in the running to manage his country.

While Pardew might be an outsider — even though he distanced himself from the race yesterday — the 50-year-old's impressive work in difficult circumstances at Newcastle should have earned a few admiring glances.

Despite the sale of his star striker Andy Carroll, Pardew kept Newcastle in the Premier League last season and now they sit fifth in the table with a push for a Champions League place within their sights.

Guus Hiddink

Spells in charge of Holland, South Korea, Australia, Russia and Turkey give the 65-year-old Dutchman a wealth of international experience that would be attractive to any country looking for a new boss.

Hiddink is said to have already expressed an interest in the England job and he knows several key players including John Terry, Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard from his spell as Chelsea interim manager in 2009.

Regarded as one of the most tactically astute coaches in world football, Hiddink would be a safe pair of hands, but his recent flop with Turkey could count against him.

leading the nation

Candidates for the job