CAPELLO LEAVES ROME Juventus said on Friday it had hired coach Fabio Capello away From AS Roma, as the Turin team seeks to rebuild after a disappointing season. Rumors have abounded about a successor to ex-Juve coach Marcello Lippi, who brought Italy's historically most successful club years of victory, but stepped down after the side Ended this season in third place.
"We confirm that Capello will be the new Juve coach," said Marco Girotto of the juventus press office. "He has signed a contract for the next three years".
Girotto gave no details of the financial terms of the contract. However, sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Juventus will pay Capello around € 3 million (US$3.7 million) a year. Capello spent five seasons at Roma, leading the club to the 2001 Serie A title. He guided AC Milan to four Italian league titles in the 1990s, and Real Madrid to victory in the Spanish league in 1997.
AS Roma fans in the capital were outraged at the news, accusing Capello of being a traitor. Juventus is one of Roma's most hated rivals in Serie A, and transfers of this type are often seen as being tantamount to treason. (AP)