FORMER England, Real Madrid and Russia manager Fabio Capello was named Sunday to lead China’s Jiangsu Suning, one of the biggest coaching signings yet in a spending binge by the Chinese domestic league.

Jiangsu Suning said the disciplinarian Italian would “bring some of the world’s most advanced ideas and methods to drive the elevation of Jiangsu soccer, and Chinese soccer overall.”

Capello is the latest high-profile import to China following rocketing player deals, which reportedly put Ezequiel Lavezzi and Carlos Tevez among the world’s best-paid soccer players and saw Chinese clubs smash the Asian transfer record five times within 12 months.

Suning has been particularly free-spending, splashing out on high-priced imports like Brazilians Ramires and Alex Teixeira.

But a disappointing season was compounded by elimination from the AFC Champions League two weeks ago, and they are now flirting with relegation from China’s top tier.

Jiangsu announced the departure of South Korean coach Choi Yong-soo shortly after their Champions League exit.

Capello, now 70, brings a glittering resume.

He won five Serie A titles — four with AC Milan and one with Roma — plus two La Liga crowns with Real Madrid. He also won the Champions League during his time with Milan.

Capello was appointed England manager in December 2007. His hard-line disciplinarian approach reaped impressive results during a honeymoon period, when a revitalized England qualified for the 2010 World Cup with ease.

But Capello’s first taste of management at a major international tournament ended in humiliation as England crashed out with a 4-1 defeat against Germany in the last 16.

He survived the storm of criticism following that failure and guided England to qualification for Euro 2012.

But the Italian resigned before the tournament after disagreeing with the Football Association over the decision to take the captaincy from John Terry, who was facing racism allegations.

(SD-Agencies)