Fabio Capello became the latest victim of the “impossible job” after a four-year reign which had once seemed poised to end decades of English failure before it finally unravelled in disarray.

When Capello was appointed in December 2007, the experienced Italian appeared to be the right man at the right time, just what the doctor ordered after the shambles of Steve McClaren’s ill-fated regime.

Here was a no-nonsense football heavyweight, a steely disciplinarian with impeccable credentials who would restore order among an English squad widely regarded as over-indulged and under-achieving.

For a while, it seemed as if Capello could do no wrong, and early results appeared to vindicate his hardline approach.

Hopes that Capello might be the man to turn England into world beaters took off after his team dismantled Croatia 4-1 in a 2008 World Cup qualifier.

“He has a seriousness about him, instilling winning as an attitude,” then Football Association chairman Lord David Triesman enthused.

As long as England kept winning – and their progress towards the 2010 World Cup in South Africa continued in the same assured vein – few were willing to begrudge Capello his 6 million pound ($A8.85 million) salary.

Yet, the first cracks began to emerge in the months leading up to the World Cup.

His decision to sack John Terry as captain following newspaper revelations of an affair with the ex-girlfriend of England and Chelsea team-mate Wayne Bridge received broad support.

However, senior FA officials were unhappy when it emerged the England manager had endorsed a player-rating website known as the “Capello Index” shortly before the World Cup. The launch of the website was later postponed.

Capello’s squad selection for South Africa also raised eyebrows.

Each decision seemed to fly in the face of Capello’s oft-stated philosophy of only picking players who were in form and fully fit.

Once in South Africa, England’s campaign lurched from one disaster to the next. Off the pitch, England players were unhappy at being isolated from the excitement of the tournament.

On the pitch, England’s performances suffered. After dismal draws with the United States and Algeria, England qualified for the last 16 with a scratchy win over Slovenia.

Yet disaster befell Capello’s men, when they were mercilessly exposed by Germany, 4-1 winners in one of the most traumatic English World Cup defeats.

From that point on, the spell was broken and, for the first time, Capello faced calls from sections of the English media to resign.

While England qualified with relative ease for Euro 2012, Capello’s tactics continued to face severe criticism after lacklustre draws with Montenegro and Switzerland.

His decision to restore Terry to the captaincy in 2011 – despite warnings from senior FA officials against doing so – provided further evidence the Italian’s previously sure touch had deserted him.

Capello also needlessly alienated the previous captain Rio Ferdinand by failing to inform him of the decision.

Capello’s decision to reappoint Terry as skipper came back to haunt him after the defender was charged with racially abusing Anton Ferdinand.

When Terry’s trial was adjourned beyond Euro 2012, the FA decided it could no longer have him as captain of the national side.

The decision angered Capello, who had assured Terry his job was safe only weeks before, but it was the Italian’s decision to go public with his unhappiness on Sunday that sealed his fate.