The news last month that England manager Fabio Capello had quit his job shocked the world of football, particularly on our continent.
Capello was appointed England manager on December 12, 2008. During his tenure, he guided the team to the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship.
On February 8, 2012, the Italian resigned after the English FA stripped John Terry of the captain’s armband because of an alleged racism remark at Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand.
U-21 coach Stuart Pearce has been put in charge of the team for the time being and the favourite for the job is Tottenham’s Harry Redknapp.
Other football news for February read:
• Championship side Leeds United dismiss manager Simon Grayson.
• Wolves sack manager Mick McCarthy.
• Scottish champions Rangers’ crippling financial troubles intensify as an Edinburgh court announces that the club is going into administration.
• Rangers enter administration − immediately 10 points are deducted from their total in the Scottish Premier League.
• In the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, Arsenal suffer a humiliating 4-0 loss away to Milan.
• In the first legs of the Europa League second round matches, both Manchester clubs win away − City at Porto 2-1 and United at Ajax 2-0. Stoke go down to Valencia at home.
• The FA state that it would be unworkable for Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp to go part-time with England.
• Championship side Portsmouth go into administration for the second time in three seasons.
• Leeds appoint ex-QPR boss Neil Warnock as their manager.
• In the fifth round of the FA Cup, Norwich are eliminated at home by Leicester 1-2.
• In the Champions League, Chelsea go down 1-3 away to Napoli.
• In the Europa League, Manchester City beat Porto 4-0 at home to advance 6-1 over two legs, and Manchester United lose 2-1 at home to Ajax but still progress 3-2 on aggregate. Stoke City, however, suffer another setback against Valencia, this time 0-1 away.
• Wolves name Terry Connor, McCarthy’s former assistant, as their manager until the end of the season.
• In the final of the League Cup at Wembley Stadium, Liverpool edge Cardiff 3-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
• Tottenham’s Scott Parker is voted the fans’ Player of the Year for England.
• European clubs and UEFA agree changes that will reduce the number of international matches played each year.
Leading scorers
Premier League
25 − Van Persie (Arsenal).
18 − Rooney (Man. United).
16 − Aguero (Man. City), Ba (Newcastle).
The Championship
20 − Lambert (Southampton).
15 − McCormack (Leeds).
14 − Rodriguez (Burnley).
Scottish Premier League
16 − Hooper (Celtic).
14 − Daly (Dundee).
12 − Higdon (Motherwell).
Average attendances
1. Man. United - 75,348
2. Arsenal - 59,944
3. Newcastle - 48,924
4. Man. City - 47,042
5. Liverpool - 44,810
6. Chelsea - 41,640
7. Sunderland - 38,461
8. Tottenham - 36,072
9. Aston Villa - 34,273
10. Everton - 33,100
11. Stoke City - 27,233
12. Norwich City - 26,525
13. Wolves - 25,636
14. Fulham - 25,237
15. West Brom - 24,557
16. Bolton - 23,532
17. Blackburn - 22,172
18. Swansea City - 19,929
19. Wigan Athletic - 17,581
20. QPR - 16,966