Fabio Capello has offered David Beckham a role as part of his backroom staff at this summer's World Cup finals after he tore his left Achilles tendon on Sunday evening, ruling him out for six months and ending his hopes of playing in the tournament.

Light at the end of the tunnel: David Beckham will not play in the World Cup but he may yet go to South Africa as part of the England backroom staff

Beckham flew to Finland on Monday for an operation to repair the damage with orthopaedic surgeon Sakari Orava declaring on Monday night that the 50-minute procedure was a success. “So far everything is fine,” he said. “The operation went smoothly and nicely.”

However Dr Orava confirmed that Beckham was out of this summer’s World Cup finals, saying he did not think the 34 year-old would recover in time. “No, I don’t think so,” he said. “Healing takes a long time. He had a total tear of the left Achilles tendon and that has been repaired.” Indeed it may well be three months before he is able to walk properly again.

Beckham’s foot will be in a cast for six to eight weeks after which he will undergo more “vigorous” physiotherapy with his spokesman Simon Oliveira, however, refuting suggestions that the midfielder’s career was now over.

On Sunday evening, Capello called Beckham to commiserate with the former England captain who he intended to include in his 23-man squad for South Africa. Capello was told by AC Milan’s medical staff that it would be six months before Beckham was fit and although a more accurate assessment of his rehabilitation time will be given later this week, the timeframe is not expected to change drastically.

Beckham is understood to have been distraught by the injury which occurred in the final minute of a Serie A match against Chievo — Milan defender Ignazio Abate said his team-mate was “inconsolable” and in tears — and which will prevent him from playing in a fourth World Cup finals, particularly as he feels he has worked hard to revive his international career, which appeared to have ended after he was dropped by Capello’s predecessor, Steve McClaren, before he was eventually recalled and then retained his place under the Italian.

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said: “I saw him and he was suffering. In the dressing room, I took him in my arms and told him that if he wanted, he will be with us next year.”

Beckham flew to Turku in Finland on a private jet on Monday, arriving at the Mehilainen hospital on crutches. He is expected to be discharged on Tuesday.

Capello told Beckham in their telephone conversation that such was his importance to England that he would find a role for him to play with the squad if he wanted to stay involved. So far that role is undefined — part of Capello’s motivation was to raise the player’s crushed spirits — but it is a sign of how highly he rates Beckham that he would have even considered making such a suggestion.

Whether Beckham would be offered a coaching role, an ambassadorial role or to act as a glorified ‘cheer-leader’ remains to be seen. It has not yet been thought through by Capello although his offer is a genuine one, partly because he values Beckham’s influence so highly.

Undoubtedly the Football Association would be keen for Beckham to go to South Africa in any capacity, with England bidding to host the 2018 World Cup finals, but Capello’s motivation is purely for the positive effect he believes it would have on the squad and on Beckham himself.

Indeed it is clear from the very fact that he called Beckham personally that the two men enjoy a strong rapport. Capello, who coached Beckham at Real Madrid and brought him back into the side having initially frozen him out because of his impending move to LA Galaxy, said yesterday: “I spoke with him after the game on Sunday night to offer my support as did [England general manager] Franco Baldini. David is a great professional and has worked very hard to be ready for the World Cup. Missing it will be a big blow.”

Beckham issued a statement, thanking fans for their support and saying he was “upset” by the injury but hoped to make a “swift” recovery. His spokesman Oliveira added: “This is not the end of his playing career. Even if David does miss the World Cup, he is aiming to play towards the end of the MLS season [in October].”

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti, who coached Beckham last season at AC Milan, added: “I’m so sorry for him because I know how he wanted to go to the World Cup. He came last year to Milan above all to achieve this, to show his quality for the England team.”

There were also suggestions on Monday from physiotherapists that Beckham’s jet-set lifestyle — criss-crossing the Atlantic — may have made him vulnerable to such an injury.