Capello kicks off with Inter-esting opening gambit

the league.

“Zambrotta is an experienced coach, and I hope that he will focus more on the defense of the team,” said Capello.

Zambrotta said: “I have worked with Fabio Capello at Juve. I know a lot about Capello’s coaching philosophy, so when he invited me to Suning, I immediately accepted. I know he is also very, very proud to join his coaching staff, I think it’s a right decision.”

The trio’s contracts will take them through to the end of next season. “When I received Jiangsu’s offer, their long-term plan struck me,” Capello added.

Capello claimed he came into the job with knowledge of the Chinese game, having worked as a pundit on Italian television’s coverage of the CSL.

“In Italy I am a guest on some TV channels and I have commentated on CSL matches,” he said.

“I’ve watched lots of Jiangsu’s matches and have a certain level of understanding of the team. But I won’t comment on individual players because football is a team sport.”

Capello boasts a glittering CV of Serie A, La Liga and Champions League successes with some of Europe’s most glamorous clubs – Milan, Roma, Juventus and Real Madrid.

At international level, he qualified England for the 2010 World Cup, although his team failed to go beyond the last 16 in South Africa.

He resigned from the England job in 2012 because of a dispute with the Football Association and was later appointed coach of Russia, where he had three disappointing years at the helm before being fired in 2015.

Capello’s first game in charge of Jiangsu is on Sunday – his 71st birthday – against Changchun Yatai at Nanjing Olympic Stadium.

“I wish myself happy birthday, and a victory would be a great birthday gift, but it depends on my players,” he said.