Fabio Capello: I was let down by FA over England job

Italian launches attack on FA for breaking promises as he targets 2014 World Cup success with Russia

Capello: New Russia coach (AFP/Getty Images)

Fabio Capello, the former England manager, vowed to turn Russia into one of the world's top teams after signing a two-year contract as national coach yesterday.

However, the Italian criticised the Football Association for his controversial departure from the England job in February and said he had been let down over promises to pick his own captain when the row over John Terry led to his exit.

"If I were with your guys [England]during the European Championships, it would have been even better," Capello said. "We had qualified for the finals and it was only the John Terry story that meant I couldn't go to the finals.

"On that issue with [the FA], with my contract, it was put down on paper that the decision as to who would be captain should be made by only the coach. It was down on paper, in the contract, in black and white."

"But I'd worked there for four years and, after what happened, I was pissed off ,you know, and I wanted to stop. Every national coach works for two years towardsa goal – that is the ambition ofevery coach – but I was not given the opportunity to fight for the Euros with England."

Capello replaces Dutchman Dick Advocaat, whose tenure ended following Russia's disappointing Euro 2012 campaign, where they failed to advance past the group stage.

"I'm very proud to be the coach of the Russian national team. Russia have great potential. I will live and work in Moscow," he said.

"I will maintain close ties with [the Russian Football Union], update them on all my plans on a weekly basis. I have many ideas how to make Russia a much better team," he added. "I hope to teach Russian players a winning mentality. We have to work towards the 2014 World Cup." Asked about Andrei Arshavin, Russia's most influential player, Capello added: "I must first talk to Arshavin before making any decision about his future with the national team.

"I plan to follow not only the [Russian] Premier League looking for players but the Second and Third Division as well," Capello said. "I'm sure there are many talented players in such a big country as Russia.