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Capello in, Zeman out for Roma
Posted: Wednesday June 02, 1999 10:55 PM
ROME (AP) -- AS Roma will hire former AC Milan and Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello for next season, ending Zdenek Zeman's stormy stay with the Serie A club, Roma owner Franco Sensi said Wednesday. Capello guided Milan to four league titles in a five-year span earlier this decade, and led Real Madrid to the Spanish crown in his lone season at the helm, 1996-97. Capello, a player for Roma in the 1960s, is expected to sign a two-year deal. He did not coach anywhere this past season, working instead as a television commentator. "There are two announcements today: the firing of Zeman and the hiring of Capello," Sensi said. Asked to explain the moves, the owner replied, "It's time to win." Under Zeman, Roma finished fourth a year ago and fifth this season with a 15-9-10 record. His wide-open brand of soccer produced a league-high 69 goals this year, two per game, but the team also allowed 49. "I had to do what was good for the franchise and the fans," Sensi said. "Zeman, though, is an exemplary professional and a good person, and I thank him for what he has done for us during these two years." Under the Czech coach's tutelage, young playmaker Francesco Totti became a mainstay on the national team, while Luigi Di Biagio, Eusebio Di Francesco and Marco Delvecchio all made their debuts for Italy. "I'm pretty disappointed and upset," Totti said. "It came from nowhere and it's a blow, because I'm close to Zeman. He helped me a lot." In February, Zeman was given a contract extension, tying him to Roma through next season. He caused a stir last summer by remarking in an interview that he was "amazed" at the sudden muscular development of certain soccer players. The comments led to four separate investigations into doping in Italian sports. Things should be much different under Capello, 52, who is soft-spoken off the field and preaches defense on it. His 1993-94 Milan club set Serie A records for fewest goals allowed in a 34-game season (15), and fewest goals scored by a title-winner (36). That side also won the Champions Cup. Capello's 1991-92 Milan side is the only team to go undefeated for an entire 34-game season. His latest stint as a coach was not a success, however. After his one year at Madrid, Capello was lured back to Milan for the 1997-98 season, but the team finished only 10th in the 18-team Serie A, and he was replaced by Alberto Zaccheroni. Capello captured four league titles and one Italian Cup during his playing career with Spal, Roma, Juventus and Milan.
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