Tuesday, 17 July 2012:

The Russian Football Union (RFU) has appointed Italian coach Fabio Capello as new national manager to revive the flagging fortunes of the team after its flop at Euro 2012.

"We expect him to come to Moscow in the nearest future to finalise the details of his contract and sign it," the RFU deputy president Nikita Simonyan told ITAR-TASS news agency.

"I think this will happen on Wednesday or Thursday," added Simonyan, who is acting chief of the RFU after the ruling body's previous head Sergei Fursenko resigned last month.

Capello said he was happy and proud to take over Russia's national side.

"And I'll be happy if my work with the Russian team will go right way. The co-operation with this team is a great challenge for me as Russia is a great country," Capello was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA.

Financial details have not been disclosed but the Sport Express daily reported last week that Capello had been offered an annual salary of up to 7 million euros ($A8.4 million).

The 66-year-old Capello will be the immediate successor to Dutchman Dick Advocaat, whose side were disappointingly knocked out of the Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine at the group stages.

Capello, nicknamed Don Fabio, has coached AC Milan, Roma, Juventus and Real Madrid during his managerial career, winning domestic titles with each before becoming England manager in 2007.

Under Capello, England qualified for Euro 2012 before the Italian resigned after falling out with Football Association chiefs after he stood by John Terry as skipper despite the Chelsea man being embroiled in a racism trial which ultimately acquitted the defender.

One of the Italian manager's key conditions was reportedly having Italian-speaking Russian assistant coaches in his squad.

Igor Shalimov and Dmitry Alenichev, who have experience playing with Italian Serie A clubs and both speak the language, are top contenders to join Capello's coaching team, Sport Express said.

AAP