Fabio Capello is expected to be announced as the England head coach within days after Brian Barwick, the Football Association chief executive, installed him as first choice for the job. The Times can reveal that preliminary contact has been made through intermediaries and, with José Mourinho out of the running, the pair are expected to meet this week. It looks as if the selection process that has taken place since the dismissal of Steve McClaren last month is coming to an end and the FA will deliver on the belief that a new England head coach will be in place before Christmas.

Mourinho’s withdrawal after interest from AC Milan has left the Italian in pole position. The former Chelsea manager confirmed that he had engaged in “useful discussions” with the FA, but he added: “After deep and serious thinking, I decided to exclude myself, despite it being a fantastic position.”

Capello fits Barwick’s requirement for a world-class head coach, having achieved success in two countries at club level, winning the European Cup, seven league titles and four domestic cups with Milan, Juventus and Real Madrid. He has been working as a television pundit since leaving Real in June and, having achieved all he can in club football, views the international field as his only option.

He has been intrigued by the possibility of coaching England since 2001, when Sven-Göran Eriksson was succeeded Kevin Keegan. The Swede’s appointment convinced him that the FA is open-minded about employing a foreign coach.

Capello’s command of English is better than is widely perceived and he has made no secret of his ambition for the job once England failed to qualify for Euro 2008. On the night that England were eliminated, after defeat by Croatia in their final qualifier, at Wembley, sources in Italy let it be known that Capello, 61, would be interested in taking the national team to the 2010 World Cup.

Simon Johnson, the lawyer who acts as right-hand man to Barwick on contractual matters, has spoken to Capello’s legal adviser, his son, Pier Filippo. These conversations have given the FA enough encouragement to believe that Capello is a serious contender and Barwick regards him as the outstanding candidate on his shortlist.

Marcello Lippi received a strong recommendation from Sir Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager, but would come into consideration only if talks with Capello broke down. Martin O’Neill, the Aston Villa manager, is believed to have remained firm on his wish not to be considered, while Jürgen Klinsmann was always regarded as an outside candidate.

After the humiliation surrounding the pursuit of Luiz Felipe Scolari, the Portugal coach, in 2006, the FA is at pains to point out that no firm decision has been made. That is understandable while Capello and Barwick are awaiting their face-to-face meeting, but events could move quickly after that.

Barwick will not consider offering the job to Capello until first hearing his plans for the national team, while Capello would also need to be happy with the terms and conditions of his new position, but previous conversations have given firm indication that the deal could be completed soon.

Capello is open to the suggestion of an English presence on his staff, although he would expect to work largely with a familiar team that would follow him from Italy. He is aware that an English coaching assistant would help him in the dressing-room, particularly if the figure in question is a renowned former England captain, such as Alan Shearer or Tony Adams.

Capello would be free to start work immediately and could be present for the fixtures meeting in Zagreb that will decide the order in which England play Croatia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Andorra in their World Cup qualifying group. This discussion was put back from December to January, suggesting that England hoped to have their new man installed by then.

Barwick’s choice will have to be ratified by the FA board, but that is not expected to present a problem. The chief executive has let it be known that he would regard his position as untenable if his selection was to be rejected.

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