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Fabio's just won the double
20.12.07
Fabio Capello may only just have been made England manager but he's already acquired a professional lookalike - and he's not English either.
Irish builder Michael McElinney is a dead ringer for the Italian coach given the "impossible job" of leading our footballers to glory. He was signed up by a lookalikes agency he contacted after learning of the appointment.
The 45-year-old from Uxbridge said: "As soon as they saw my photo they were delighted and told me to get to work on my Italian accent."
He is now considering selling his construction business to focus entirely on impersonating 61-year-old Capello, which could command a fee of £350 per appearance.
"I believe if I approach this job professionally, much like Mr Capello will do with the England job, I can make a career out of it," said Mr McElinney. "My act is coming together very quickly. I don't wear glasses but have got a pair just like his. I am watching tapes of his interview and trying to get the mannerisms right. I don't speak a word of Italian but if Mr Capello is going to learn English in a month who is to say I can't learn it?"
Mr McElinney, who supports Manchester United and the Republic of Ireland and worked on the construction of the new Wembley Stadium, learned on a trip to Italy in April that he resembled Capello. "I went to a friend's wedding in Rome and all the waiters and waitresses were staring at me," he said. "They kept on saying 'Capello this, Capello that.' I was wearing a kilt but some of them really thought I was him. When I got back I realised who Fabio Capello was but thought nothing of it until he was linked to the England job."
The Standard took him back to Wembley to test just how close his resemblance is. One passer-by seemed convinced, shouting, "Good luck, you'll need it." At the FA headquarters in Soho Square, there was pandemonium as soon as he arrived. Dozens of people swarmed round, including a Sky Sports camera crew, as "Capello" muttered, "Sorry, no English."
Staff at Bar Italia nearby were also fooled - until the faux Italian ordered a latte. "Capello would surely have an espresso," said a staff member before posing with Mr McElinney. Outside the National Gallery some teenagers shouted: "All the best, Mr Capello. Drop Lampard." But at Waterstone's bookshop, we were rumbled by an Italian journalist browsing the shelves. "I know this is not Capello but he looks a lot like him," he said.
