Capello says he wants to stay on as England coach but FA to take 2 weeks to decide his future

FA to decide on Capello’s future within 2 weeks

RUSTENBURG, South Africa — England’s Football Association told Fabio Capello on Monday it will take two weeks to decide whether to retain him as coach of the national team.

Capello, who has two years left on his contract, said he met with FA board member Dave Richards and told him he “absolutely” wants to stay on despite England’s elimination from the World Cup by Germany.

“He told me that he needs two weeks time to decide,” Capello said. “I said I can be for the next season the manager of England.”

Capello led England to nine wins from 10 qualifying matches, but his team exited the second round Sunday following a 4-1 loss — England’s most lopsided at a World Cup.

The former Real Madrid and AC Milan coach said he supported Richards’ response.

“I think it’s an intelligent answer,” Capello said.

The Italian is contracted to the FA until after the 2012 European Championship.

“I refuse a lot of opportunities to be a manager of important clubs because I like to stay here,” Capello said, adding he and Richards discussed the need to turn to younger players and rebuild the national team.

That could mean the likes of John Terry, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard facing the end of their international careers if Capello stays on.

Capello said tiredness was the main reason for England’s poor performance at the World Cup after long seasons in domestic and European competitions.

“The players were not as good as I know because they played not so fast, not so quick. I can see through the seven games they were not so fast as I know,” he said in reference to three warmup games and the four played at the tournament.

“I understand a lot after this tournament. The players trained very well and were focused every time. But the performance was not at the level that I know. Probably we are really tired every time at a competition that we have to play.”

Capello noted that Germany has a long midwinter break and that might explain why its players appeared fresher at the end of their domestic and European campaigns and for the World Cup.

“Germany always arrive at the second part of the season very well when you play Champions League,” he said, referring to Bayern Munich reaching the final of European soccer’s premier club competition.

“The reason is that it’s very important to recover the force. But it’s not my job to decide the calendar.”