The Football Association has confirmed it has held talks with Fabio Capello about the vacant England manager's job.
Chief executive Brian Barwick and Sir Trevor Brooking met with the former AC Milan and Real Madrid coach, who flew out of Heathrow this evening.
Further talks are expected but the meeting was described as "extremely positive and without any problems" by Adrian Bevington, the FA's director of communications.
Bevington said in a statement issued to PA Sport: "I can confirm that Brian Barwick and Sir Trevor Brooking have today held talks with Fabio Capello in London.
"I am pleased to say that these discussions were extremely positive and without any problems.
"Fabio Capello has now returned to Italy to honour a commitment.
"Understandably further talks are now taking place between Fabio Capello's advisors and ourselves."
The Italian, who has described the job as "beautiful challenge", has been the hot favourite to succeed Steve McClaren since Jose Mourinho pulled out of the running on Monday night.
Barwick and Brooking would now appear to be closer to securing his signature. Whether the appointment is ratified by the FA board later this week or at their planned meeting next Wednesday, Capello looks to be in pole position to take control when England next take to the field against Switzerland on February 6th.
England fans' spokesman Mark Perryman believes that securing Capello would represent a major coup for the FA after the disastrous reign of former Middlesbrough boss McClaren.
"He's got an outstanding CV. He's won the league in two different countries, he's won the Champions League. It's like going from Captain Mainwaring to Field Marshall Montgomery in one fell swoop," Perry said today.
"On paper it's a very encouraging idea that him or (Marcello) Lippi would be considered for England manager and that they would consider the job, more importantly."
Last time the FA went on the hunt for a new coach, following Sven-Goran Eriksson's decision to step aside after the 2006 World Cup, a host of British candidates came under serious consideration, but the most serious contender for the job now appears to be Capello's fellow Italian Marcelo Lippi, who helped Italy to their World Cup win in 2006.
Fabio Capello Factfile
1946: Born in San Canzian d'Isonzo, Gorizia, Italy.
1964: Makes his professional debut for Ferrara side SPAL, beginning a playing career in which he also represented Roma, Juventus, AC Milan and earned 32 caps for Italy.
1973: Scores the only goal as Italy beat England at Wembley for the first time.
1991: Appointed head coach of AC Milan.
1992: Wins first of three successive Italian league titles.
1993: Guides Milan to Champions League final, where they are beaten 1-0 by Marseille.
1994: Milan reach the Champions League final again, this time beating Barcelona 4-0. They later add the European Super Cup.
1995: Milan reach their third successive Champions League final but lose 1-0 to Ajax.
1996: Leaves Milan after winning a fourth Scudetto in five seasons and is appointed Real Madrid coach.
1997: Wins Spanish league title with Real, before returning for a second spell with Milan.
1998: Fired after unsuccessful return to Milan.
1999: Takes over as coach of Roma.
2001: Guides Roma to their first Scudetto for 18 years and only the third in their history.
2004: Leaves Roma to take over as Juventus coach, winning the Scudetto in his first season.
2006: May - Retains Scudetto with Juventus but they are later stripped of the title after match-fixing allegations.
July - Resigns amid speculation of a return to Real Madrid after Ramon Calderon, newly-elected as president of the Spanish club, names Capello as his preferred choice for the vacant coaching position. Appointed Real Madrid head coach for a second time.
2007: January - Sanctions the departures of Ronaldo and David Beckham. Ronaldo joins AC Milan in the transfer window, while Beckham announces he will move to the Los Angeles Galaxy at the end of the season; Capello responds by insisting Beckham will never play for the club again.
February - Following defeat to Levante - a fourth reverse in six league matches - he reinstates Beckham - who scores - for match against Real Sociedad. Madrid issue statement denying suggestions that Capello had handed in his resignation.
March - Oversees the departure of another Galactico as Roberto Carlos confirms he will leave the club for Fenerbahce at the end of the season.
June - Real Madrid celebrate their first league title since 2003 but is sacked on June 28.
July - Reveals he is considering an offer to coach a Major League Soccer club in the United States.
November - Declares his interest in becoming England manager.
December 11:Emerges as the favourite to be Steve McClaren's successor as England manager after Jose Mourinho rules himself out of the running.
December 12:The Football Association confirm they had held discussions with Capello about the England manager's job which they described as "extremely positive and without any problems". Further talks were expected.
