Capello officially starts the England job on 7 January

The Italian, 61, will officially start in his new post on 7 January.

Capello said: "I have wanted this job for a long time and I know there are great expectations that go with it.

"My first objective is to meet the players and the club coaches in the Premier League. England has a great team that can go right to the top."

Capello, who has signed a four-and-a-half-year contract worth £6.5m a year, said it was a "dream come true" to take the England job.

He needed a translator for his first press conference since accepting the job but said he is determined to improve his English before February's friendly against Switzerland.

"I am convinced that in one month when I meet up with the squad for the first time, I will be able to speak English," Capello explained.

"I believe it is very important to communicate with players and I will undergo a strict routine to learn the language - I will apply myself every day."

The former AC Milan and Real Madrid coach says he will ask his squad why they think England have under-achieved in recent years, and failed to qualify for the finals of Euro 2008.

"I'm going to try to understand what happened by talking to the players," he added. "I believe that wearing the England shirt should be a matter of pride - I want to see all players playing for England like they do for their clubs."

Capello acknowledged that managing England will be very different to being in charge of a club side - but says he is confident he can work well with his players, and gain the co-operation of Premier League managers too.

"It is very different," Capello said.

"My behaviour will have to change, as will the players.

"I have always had an excellent relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger and also the two Spanish managers Rafa Benitez and Juande Ramos.

There is still over a month until my first game and plenty of time for important decisions to be made

Fabio Capello

"I've always had a fantastic relationship with such individuals, it will be no problem in working alongside them."

Capello is also keen to add an English coach to his backroom staff, saying: "From the first day I spoke with Sir Trevor Brooking, I have always asked for an English coach to be integrated into the set-up.

"It is something I have done wherever I have been - it is vital have someone from that environment who understands English football and the language."

Capello was asked about former captain David Beckham's hopes of winning his 100th cap against Switzerland and continuing his England career until the 2010 World Cup.

During his time at Real Madrid, Capello initially dropped Beckham but recalled him to play an instrumental role in his title-winning team.

Capello said: "I had a contrasting relationship with David Beckham at Real but in the end he demonstrated what a great man and great player he is.

"Also, he is the kind of person I believe, when he sets himself something he will achieve it so you never know but obviously I will have to make choices.

"I believe David's behaviour is important.

This is a significant appointment and we are delighted with the response from the public and the media. We know we owe the fans and we believe Fabio Capello is the man to restore our pride

Brian Barwick

"Obviously there is still over a month until my first game and plenty of time for important decisions to be made."

There has also been speculation over Chelsea defender John Terry's future as England captain under Capello, but the Italian said he is yet to make a decision.

"I have just arrived," Capello said. "There are many things I have to think about, I have got over a month and I will make my decision."

FA chief executive Brian Barwick is certain Capello will prove to be a success, saying: "We have an outstanding man with an outstanding record.

"This is a significant appointment and we are delighted with the response from the public and the media. We know we owe the fans and we believe Fabio Capello is the man to restore our pride."

Barwick confirmed the FA's plans to restructure coaching in England will go ahead, with the aim of producing some realistic English candidates to succeed Capello.

He stated: "We have talked about root and branch (reform) and there has been some scepticism about whether we'll see that through and whether it was just a smokescreen. It wasn't.

"The FA's strategic review will be published in March 2008 and it will take us through the next five years. A direct part of it will be to work out how we take the England situation forward in a positive way.

"It should always be the ambition of the FA, when possible, to recruit an England manager from within our own country.

"On this occasion we felt it was important to get the right man whatever the nationality."