Milan 1991-92
'Perfection in football does not exist but this season we came pretty close'
Marco van Basten
In his first full season of management, Fabio Capello achieved something no manager had before or has since - winning Serie A without a single defeat. Staying faithful to Arrigo Sacchi's 4-4-2, Capello injected fresh impetus by promoting 20-year-old midfielder Demetrio Albertini ahead of veteran Carlo Ancelotti and converting Daniele Massaro from midfielder to striker. A rejuvenated Marco van Basten scored 25 league goals as the team scored 74 in 34 games, conceding only 21. By the end of the season they had been dubbed "The Invincibles" by the Italian press.
Milan 1992-93
'Capello was very strict and rigid, but he perfected the mechanisms of Sacchi and he prompted the leap in quality - Capello brought out the man in me'
Paolo Maldini
Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi blew almost £34m in the summer of 1992 bringing in Jean-Pierre Papin, Zvonimir Boban, Dejan Savicevic, Stefano Eranio and Gianluigi Lentini, but Capello did not welcome them all. Restricted by Uefa's three-foreigners rule, Capello used Boban and Savicevic sparingly, and quickly lost patience with Papin, who was unhappy at playing second-fiddle to Van Basten. The unbeaten run was ended after 58 games at Parma in March, but despite results tailing off badly they claimed the title with a week to spare.
Milan 1993-94
'If Capello's system looks boring from the stands, it's even worse to play in'
Jean-Pierre Papin
1993-94 represented the end of an era for Milan, with Rijkaard and Ruud Gullit leaving and Van Basten sidelined by an ankle injury that would eventually end his career. Capello responded pragmatically, abandoning Milan's attacking style. Although the formation was ostensibly the same, the mid-season arrival of a centre-back, Marcel Desailly, to fill the void left by Rijkaard in central midfield betrayed a new mindset. Milan scored 36 in 34 league games, but let in only 15. The 4-0 European Cup final thrashing of Barcelona was an anomaly.
Milan 1995-96
'Capello was always able to find the right words to motivate me. Back then, there were many other talented players and there wasn't room for me, but he made me believe in myself'
Patrick Vieira
Capello's last Milan triumph was built on the arrival of two genuine superstars up front - Roberto Baggio and George Weah. Still committed to 4-4-2, Capello did not abandon his defensive focus, but found increasing room for the attack-minded Savicevic to alternate with Roberto Donadoni on the left and even used the Montenegrin as a replacement for Desailly and Albertini in the middle. Milan won the Scudetto at a canter, eight points clear of Juventus.
Real Madrid 1995-96
'It was a difficult time at the club but the most important thing from is that you understand very quickly exactly what the coach wants you to do - and that is what he did'
Raul
At the start of the season, Bobby Robson's Barcelona looked set to walk the title with a young Ronaldo unstoppable. Barça scored 102 league goals but Madrid ground out results and overhauled their rivals to win the league with a week to spare. Madrid's success was built on a tough defence. Capello did, though, play with three strikers: Predrag Mijatovic and Davor Suker up front with Raul - aided by the surging runs of new full-back Roberto Carlos.
Roma 2000-01
'Capello was a great manager who understood exactly how he needed to handle players like Cassano'
Francesco Totti
At Roma Capello showed for the first time his tactical versatility, abandoning 4-4-2 in favour of an aggressive 3-4-1-2 that allowed him to accommodate Gabriel Batistuta, Marco Delvecchio and Francesco Totti up front, as well as attack-minded wing-backs Cafu and Vincent Candela. Although Vincenzo Montella, unhappy at being marginalised after Batistuta's arrival, openly criticised him, Capello was hailed by Totti, another man he would later fall out with, for his handling of Antonio Cassano's precocious attacking talents.
Juventus 2004-05
'Without a doubt he has organised our defence. Compared to when Lippi was in charge I have to defend much more. Now I'm a true midfielder'
Pavel Nedved
Juventus may have been stripped of their two most recent titles in the fall-out from the match-fixing scandal, but Capello might still feel entitled to some credit for the success of a team he identified as ageing and light on talent. Reverting to 4-4-2, Capello moulded a side similar to his Milan team of 1995-96. Pavel Nedved's attacking instincts were reined in, and combative Manuele Blasi was a regular in central midfield. A solid defence provided a base and Zlatan Ibrahimovic was a revelation.
Juventus 2005-06
'Capello helps players to grow and mature. He is precise in everything that he does'
Adrian Mutu
Capello's last Juventus team played much like that of the season before, but that was not how he intended it. Patrick Vieira was brought in to add box-to-box dynamism to the midfield, but proved too heavy in the leg and was unable to do much more than break up play. Still, Capello's introduction of 21-year-old Giorgio Chiellini at left-back, with Gianluca Zambrotta moving to the right and the plodding Jonathan Zebina dropped, was more successful. Juventus amassed a 91-point total, albeit one that would be discredited in the worst possible way.
Real Madrid 2006-07
'He is pragmatic, he isn't keen on certain attitudes and things have changed at Madrid. He's demanding and that paid off'
Fabio Cannavaro
The year Capello finally cured Madrid's galactic ailment. Trouble is, the Bernabéu didn't much like the taste of the medicine. Derided for being "boring" only the high cost and lack of an alternative spared him the sack in the wake of Madrid's Champions League exit against Bayern Munich. But he stuck to two defensive midfielders, ditched Ronaldo, imposed discipline and brought togetherness to the squad. An astonishing late run of comebacks saw them pip Barcelona to the title on the final day.
Who he'll rate ... or hate
Winners
Jamie Carragher
Sick of being overlooked by Steve McClaren but Capello likes tactically aware, no-nonsense defenders.
Micah Richards
May find his attacking urges curbed but Capello likes power and pace.
Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard
Capello's formations change with players at his disposal. He will find a solution to playing these two. Don't be surprised if one is left out first, or Gerrard moves to the right.
Owen Hargreaves
Capello almost always employs a defensive midfielder. Possible "double pivot" with Gareth Barry.
Wayne Rooney
England's one great talent, and Capello knows it. Has the battling qualities and desire the Italian loves.
Losers
Michael Owen
Capello is not patient - any more injuries coinciding with England playing well and that could be it.
David Beckham
Will get a chance for his precision and professionalism but the Italian's opinion of US football is not high.
Paul Robinson
Capello likes tall, commanding keepers who make defences feel secure. Sound like Robinson?
Rio Ferdinand
Capello sees absent-mindedness as unforgivable and demands focus.
Shaun Wright-Phillips
Capello demands physical presence and effectiveness. Not promising run and rubbish crosses.