Fabio Capello has strenuously denied that he plans to retire from football after the 2010 World Cup after reports from Italy indicated that he was ready to quit as England manager two years before the end of his contract.

The 62-year-old Italian, who began the role in January, is expected to take the side through to the 2012 European Championships before stepping down.

La Repubblica, the Italian newspaper, reported that the former AC Milan coach would end his management career after the World Cup in South Africa.

The paper said that when they asked Capello if he planned to step down in 2010, he said, "This is certain."

However, Capello has indicated to The Times that he misunderstood the interviewer's question.

"I will complete my contract with England but my time in the dug-out will end with my England experience," Capello said. "However, I would like to end my career having made an impact at a World Cup."

An FA spokesman later added: "Fabio just wishes to clarify he did not mean he was planning to quit the England job after the World Cup. I have spoken to him and his focus is solely on one tournament at a time.

"At the moment, his full concentration is on qualifying for the 2010 World Cup and he is not thinking past that objective at the moment."

However, Capello claims that success in South Africa will be difficult because of the lack of English-born players operating in the Premier League.

"I'm worse off than Lippi, than everyone," he said.

"I have Welsh players, Scottish, Irish. In the Premier League only 35 per cent of the players are English. In Italy it's about 72 per cent [Italians]."

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