Fabio Capello was one of many coaches launched by Silvio Berlusconi at Milan, revealing how he signed Ronaldo on his advice. ‘The first time we met, he said he wanted to make Milan the strongest team in the world, and he achieved it.’
Berlusconi has died at the age of 86 after suffering from leukaemia for two years, an illness he kept secret from many until recently.
He was at the helm of Milan for over 30 years, then took Monza to their first ever Serie A experience.
“A unique person, with a strength and charisma that I’ve rarely seen in anyone else,” Capello told Sky Sport Italia.
“Many tried to be like him and couldn’t do it. He had managerial instinct and also the ability to find the right people to achieve his objectives.
“He knew how to choose. I remember the first time we met at Milanello, he said he wanted to make Milan the strongest team in the world, and he achieved it.”
Capello was the Milan youth team coach, then assistant to Nils Liedholm before taking the interim coaching position for seven games in 1987.
He then had 196 matches as the assistant manager to Arrigo Sacchi before taking over himself from 1991 to 1996.
“Berlusconi created Milan. He could understand straight away who was important and who had the right ideas, but also the moments he needed to intervene. Of all the signings he made, between players and coaches, he rarely got it badly wrong.”
Capello reveals that even after he had moved on to Real Madrid, Roma, Juventus and the England national team, Berlusconi continued to contact him for advice.
“In 2007 I was coaching Real Madrid and Berlusconi asked me about Ronaldo. I said he was the best player I ever worked with, but that he had lost interest in football and we had already sold him to a club in Saudi Arabia. The next day, Ronaldo was a Milan player.”
Capello won the Champions League at Milan, four Serie A titles, the European Super Cup and three Italian Super Cups.