Capello kicks off with Inter-esting opening gambit

Italian declares he can elevate Jiangsu to level of Serie A giant

Coaching great Fabio Capello believes he can turn his new club, Jiangsu Suning, into the Inter Milan of China.

"I know I can make Jiangsu Suning into another Inter Milan and make it as world-renowned as Inter of Serie A," said Capello, who previously managed Inter's bitter rival AC Milan, as he was unveiled to the media on Wednesday in Nanjing, Jiangsu province.

The club's owner, Chinese online retail giant Suning Holdings, last year paid $307 million for a 70 percent stake in Inter, so Capello's lofty declaration will at least have struck the right note with his new employers.

In the latest chapter of his extensive coaching career, Capello has inked an 18-month contract to replace South Korean Choi Yong-soo, who quit the club earlier this month.

Capello's immediate aims are to steer Jiangsu away from the Chinese Super League relegation zone and try for a good run in the Chinese FA Cup.

After a diabolical start to the season, Jiangsu is second last in the standings, just a point off the bottom. It was also eliminated by Shanghai SIPG in the first knockout round of the AFC Champions League.

Capello, though, is confident he can turn things around.

"I'm here first to lift our position in the Chinese Super League and, in the meantime, try to gain something in the Chinese FA Cup," said the Italian.

"After three days of training, I've got to know the players' abilities and I think we will be able to perform fine in both competitions.

"I have a lot of faith in both the Suning management and in the club."

Jiangsu finished runner-up in both the CSL and cup last season but has won just once in 12 league matches this campaign.

The club's best form has been in the Asian Champions League - reaching the last 16, where it was eliminated by Shanghai SIPG the day before Choi's resignation.

Capello, who won the Champions League with Milan in 1994, will be assisted by former Italy defender Gianluca Zambrotta and ex-Milan caretaker coach Cristian Brocchi.

Zambrotta will be tasked with shoring up Jiangsu's leaky defense, which has conceded 22 goals this season, the second worst record in 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.

Fabio Capello (right) is unveiled as the new head coach of Jiangsu Suning on Wednesday. The experienced Italian, who turns 71 on Sunday, faces a daunting task of reviving Jiangsu's fortunes, with the Nanjing-based club deep in relegation trouble in the Chinese Super League.Provided To China Daily