Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney says he is delighted by Fabio Capello's appointment as England coach and wants to help make him "a legend."

Offering his first thoughts on the Italian, Rooney said he believed Capello can restore England's pride after its failure to qualify for Euro 2008.

"I'm interested to meet him and work under him," Rooney told the Daily Telegraph.

"His record is brilliant at club level, so I'm sure he can help bring something extra to England as well. I was pleased when he was appointed actually because having a record like his is the main thing. As an Englishman you want the best man for the job who is going to help us win trophies. Personally I think he is the best man.

"Hopefully we can win something for him and help him become a legend for England. A country with the talent we've got, we should be up there challenging for the main two trophies."

Capello's reign begins with a friendly against Euro 2008 co-host Switzerland next year but Rooney is already looking toward World Cup qualifiers.

"We can't look back. A country like ours surely can't go two major tournaments without qualifying. We have to make sure we do everything right and everything properly for World Cup qualification," Rooney said.

Brazilian great Pele said he was not surprised England had again opted for a foreign coach although he said it would have once been unthinkable for some of his former adversaries.

Capello became England's second foreign coach after Sweden's Sven-Goran Eriksson.

"A long time ago I used to talk to my English friends like Bobby (Charlton) and they could not accept the idea of a foreign coach," the Brazilian said at the launch of a collection of medals portraying his 1,283 goals.

Each will be auctioned to raise money for Goals for Life, a project raising funds for a Brazilian children's hospital.

"But there was one with Eriksson and now there's another and England also tried to get (Luiz Felipe) Scolari two years ago don't forget. Capello is a very good coach and very experienced so let's see if he can win something for England."

But Pele said he could not imagine a foreign coach in charge of Brazil. "Maybe an Argentine because it's so close but I think it would be very difficult for a foreign coach."

(Agencies via Shanghai Daily December 21, 2007)