MOSCOW (AP) ― Fabio Capello is staying in his post as Russia coach despite the team’s World Cup failure.
Russia was eliminated after the group stage in Brazil without winning a game, prompting speculation the Italian would be fired.
“If I’m here, then it’s clear that I’ll continue to work with the Russian team. It’s already confirmed,” Capello said Wednesday after a second meeting with Russian Football Union officials.
Capello said he had the trust of the RFU and the country’s sports ministry, and was prepared to resign if he ever felt he had lost that trust.
RFU president Nikolai Tolstykh said the organization’s executive committee had not discussed the possibility of Capello leaving when the Italian met the members on Wednesday.
“The issue didn’t come up,” he told local media. “Capello has a valid contract with the RFU and will continue his work as the national team coach. Not a single executive committee member raised the issue.”
Capello signed a contract extension in January taking him through to the World Cup in Russia in 2018.
That deal reportedly contains a clause that would require the RFU to pay at least $25 million in compensation for firing him at this stage.
The 68-year-old Capello has previously said the Russia job will be his last.
