LONDON (AFP) -- Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has added his voice to calls for Fabio Capello to become the next England manager, saying ""he is the kind of big personality we need in charge of the national team"".

The 61-year-old Italian has emerged as favorite to succeed Steve McClaren following Jose Mourinho's decision to rule himself out of contention.
England international Lampard, who played under Mourinho at Stamford Bridge, has no doubts about Capello's suitability for the England post.
""Capello has the kind of personality I think England needs,"" said Lampard. ""I have a lot of respect for him as a manager, he has a great record.
""I think it is very important that the next manager we pick has a big personality with a big history and Capello certainly has that with the titles that he has won at all levels of football,"" he added after Chelsea's goalless Champions League draw with Valencia on Tuesday.
In 16 years as a coach Capello has won nine league titles and one Champions League. He made his managerial reputation at AC Milan, whom he guided to four domestic championships and European glory in the 1990s.
Lampard's comments came as the Football Association made it clear that whoever was the next England manager would not be dictated to over his choice of captain.
John Terry, the current captain and a Chelsea teammate of Lampard's, reportedly raised concerns within the FA about whether he should continue in the role when he grabbed a red card out of the hands of referee Mike Dean when Mikel John Obi was sent off at Manchester United earlier this season.
But FA spokesman Adrian Bevington said Wednesday: ""As opposed to quotes from unnamed sources, as the official spokesman of the Football Association, I am happy to confirm that the new manager, whoever he will be, will decide on who the team and who the captain is.""
Speculation that Capello was on his way to London on Wednesday intensified when he backed out of a longstanding TV commitment with Italian state broadcaster RAI.
However, Bevington added: ""As you would understand, we would not want to confirm when any potential appointment is likely to take place until those talks have happened. Therefore, any subsequent plans are impossible to call.""
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger have also spoken out in support of Capello taking charge of England.
McClaren was sacked last month after England's 3-2 defeat against Croatia at Wembley meant they failed to qualify for the Euro 2008 finals.