Screenshot of the Capello Index website |
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| URL | http://www.capelloindex.com/ |
|---|---|
| Commercial? | Yes |
| Available language(s) | English, Italian |
| Owner | Football Cap Index |
| Launched | 17 July 2010 |
| Current status | Active |
The Capello Index is an on-line player rating system for footballers. It was devised by a gaming firm, Football Cap Index,[1] to which England manager Fabio Capello sold his name.[2] The Index uses a statistical system, created by Capello, to analyse each player's performance, marking them out of 100.[3] In order to arrive at the rating, 500 actions that a player might make during a game are evaluated.[4]
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The Capello Index was set up by Capello and business partner Chicco Merighi to, initially, rank players' performances in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.[5]
The statistical modelling was carried out by Matteo Campodonico of Italian company WY Group, coordinated by professors at the Bocconi School of Management in Milan, Italy.[6][7]
It is intended that the ratings will form the basis of a pay to play virtual football management game,[8] provisionally named Capello XI.[9]
The Index was announced on 10 May 2010. The launch was delayed, however, until after the tournament to avoid it causing disharmony in the England camp.[10] The website went live on 17 July 2010. Adrian Bevington, on behalf of the Football Association, said Capello would have no input into the site whilst in charge of the national team. Attempts have been made by both the FA and Capello to take the site down.[5] The ratings of the England players were removed from the site on 20 July.[11]
Uruguay's Diego Forlán was rated the best player at the tournament with a score of 65.77. Germany's Miroslav Klose was second with 65.39, followed by his team-mate Thomas Müller at 65.36.[3] Of the two teams that contested the final, the Netherlands' Arjen Robben scored 64.51, and Spain's Andrés Iniesta scored 65.09. The only other rated country was England, for whom Jermain Defoe led the way with 62.47.[12] The lack of any England player in the top 70 in the rankings was considered an embarrassment for Capello.[4]
Following the May announcement, Norwegian entrepreneur Baard Dahl claimed that he owned the intellectual rights to the project which he had presented to Capello and Merighi.[13] Immediately after the July launch, Capello said "I did not authorise this and am angry the index was published".[14] Gordon Taylor, the Professional Footballers Association Chief Executive described the Index as "a total breach of trust between a manager and his players".[15] As a result of the reaction to the Capello Index, the FA have told Capello that he will need their approval for future business and commercial ventures.[16]