FOOTBALL LEGEND FABIO CAPELLO BECOMES A LAUREUS AMBASSADOR
- New Ambassador Capello to be guest at Laureus World Sports Awards Nominations Announcement in Shanghai on February 11
- World renowned coach to join Laureus Family and support work of Laureus Sport for Good Foundation around the globe ‘Laureus is an organisation that I admire; now that I am an Ambassador I hope I can make a big contribution’ – says Russian coach Fabio Capello
- For pictures of Fabio Capello at Laureus events go to www.laureusarchive.com
LONDON, February 4, 2015 – Football legend Fabio Capello, one of the most admired and successful football coaches in the world, has been named a Laureus Ambassador.
Currently coach of the Russian national team, Capello will be in action immediately in his new role for Laureus by taking part in next week’s Nominations Announcement in Shanghai for the 2015 Laureus World Sports Awards.
For several years, Capello has been a keen supporter of the work of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, which uses the power of sport to improve the lives of young people around the world.
Fabio Capello said: “I am happy to do what I can to help. Laureus is an organisation that I admire and the work that it has done to acknowledge the best of sport and also to use sport to help young people is very important. Whenever I have been able to, I have supported the activities of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. Sport can change lives which is something that everyone who is involved in sport will tell you. Now that I am an Ambassador I hope that I can make a big contribution. I am also delighted that I have been invited to Shanghai to announce the names of the Nominees for this year’s Awards. I look forward to it.”
In Rome in 2013, Capello led a special session with young footballers from three Laureus projects, in Italy, Germany and Northern Ireland, to educate them about the power of sport to improve the lives of individuals and communities. He offered his experience on a wide range of sport topics including leadership, team work and positive values which can be translated into all areas of life.
Earlier, in 2010, as manager of England, he invited children from two Laureus projects in South Africa to attend a practice match during the FIFA World Cup there. The young people met Capello, his assistant David Beckham and the players as England beat local team Platinum Stars 3-0.
Edwin Moses, Chairman of the Laureus World Sports Academy, said: “It is an extraordinary honour to welcome such a great coach as Fabio. He has already taken part in many Laureus events and is so widely known around the world that I am sure he will help us to spread the Laureus message. We are delighted that he wants to join the Laureus Family and the Laureus Academy Members are looking forward to working with him.”
As a manager, Capello won four Serie A titles with AC Milan, where he also won the 1993–94 UEFA Champions League, defeating Barcelona 4–0 in a memorable final. He then spent a year at Real Madrid, where he won the La Liga title at his first attempt, and in 2001 led Roma to their first Serie A title in 18 years. Capello also won two titles at Juventus and in 2006 returned to Real Madrid, where he won another La Liga title.
Capello left club football to become England manager in December 2007, where he led the team to qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and 2012 European Championship. He was appointed coach of Russia in July 2012.
From 1964 to 1980, Capello played for SPAL 1907, Roma, AC Milan and Juventus as a midfielder and won several trophies during his career. His most successful period was with Juventus, winning three Serie A titles. He also played 32 times for Italy.
The Laureus Ambassadors are a select group of current and retired sportsmen and sportswomen who, along with the members of the Laureus World Sports Academy, support the work of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, whose mission is to utilise the power of sport to address social problems through a global programme of sports related community development initiatives. Laureus currently supports more than 150 projects around the world which have helped to improve the lives of millions of young people.
Nominations for the 2015 Laureus World Sports Awards will be announced in Shanghai on February 11 and will include shortlists in seven categories: Laureus World Sportsman of the Year, Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year, Laureus World Team of the Year, Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year, Laureus World Comeback of the Year, Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability and Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year.
The Laureus World Sports Awards is recognised as the premier honours event in the international sporting calendar and will be held in the Shanghai Grand Theatre, on April 15.
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