Former England striker Andy Carroll opens up about clashes with Fabio Capello
Andy Carroll has disclosed that Fabio Capello once snatched his phone during a team meeting and accused him of drinking and sleeping with “grannies,” a series of claims detailed in his new autobiography, Owning It, released last week, reports BritPanorama.
The 37-year-old former England forward, who earned nine caps and scored twice between 2010 and 2012, recounted two notable confrontations with the Italian manager. Carroll described a situation where he was looking at his phone before a meeting, only to be confronted by Capello, who expressed his frustration by grabbing the device and admonishing him for being disrespectful.
Carroll recalled, “The gaffer, Fabio Capello, was slightly crazy. There I was, sitting on the floor looking at my phone, when Capello walked in, marched over and snatched it out of my hand. ‘We are trying to work here!’ he barked. ‘You’re disrespectful, f***ing using your phone! Send me a message!’ With that, he threw the phone at my chest.” This incident left Carroll perplexed, reflecting his struggles with Capello’s confrontational style during his initial experiences with the national side.
Another encounter involved Capello confronting Carroll about tabloid coverage of his personal life. Despite acknowledging his reputation for heavy drinking, Carroll maintained that Capello’s allegations regarding older women didn’t pertain to him, leading to confusion over whether the coach had mistaken him for another player.
In addition to these personal anecdotes, Carroll also opened up about experiences of sexual assault by a celebrity acquaintance, a conviction that he stated could resonate with others who have faced similar abuses. His autobiography encompasses not only his personal challenges but also revisits moments from his youth, including an England age-group trip to Ibiza.
Capello’s management tenure with the English national team concluded in 2012, largely due to conflicts with the Football Association over captaincy decisions. Carroll finished his international career with nine appearances, including a participation in Euro 2012.
Currently, Carroll is with Dagenham & Redbridge, where he has embraced a player-assistant manager role for the 2026-27 season, a transition reflecting his continued involvement in the sport.
It serves as a reminder of the tumultuous intersection between personal lives and professional sport, leaving one to ponder the fine line athletes tread in the public eye.
