Eurosport - Tue, 07 Oct 18:02:00 2008
Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has admitted he considered being England coach and also turned down an approach from Portugal to succeed Luiz Felipe Scolari in the summer.
The Internazionale boss was one of the bookmakers' favourites to take over after Steve McClaren was sacked following England's failure to qualify for Euro 2008.
He was out of work at the time having left Chelsea in September last year but decided he wanted to remain in club management.
"In a certain moment I considered being England national manager, first of all because I was in love with the football country and with England - I was also happy there - and secondly because if you have one country where the prestige of the national team manager is huge, it is England," he said.
"But at the same time my passion for the day-by-day work, my passion to train every day, my desire to play every week and if possible more than one game a week, this is my life. That's the life I want to have."
That is one of the reasons why he also turned down his native Portugal when they approached him about succeeding Chelsea-bound Scolari - a job which was later taken by former Manchester United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz.
"I always had in my career project the Portuguese national team job as one of the last moments of my career but they tried to press me to do it early," Mourinho told FeelFootball.
"Sometimes you have to jump out of this road you built - but they understand that I cannot do it now.
"But I want to have the experience of coaching my country one day. I would like to make my family very proud, and I'm sure one day they will be very proud when I become Portuguese national manager.
"I [prefer] club [over country] because at this moment I'm a club manager and it's the kind of job I enjoy.
"The national team job is not the kind of job that motivates me - it's a completely different profile."
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Sorry Ray s, i've agreed with many of your cricket points in the past, (if it's the same Ray s) but you're plainly miles off with this one....Jose's record is simply impeccable and would better ANYBODY currently managing in world football, (apart from AF's, obviously) he certainly shot from the hip and was arrogant to say the least, but i'd much rather that than listen to Benitez or David Moyes every week!! He WAS approached about the England job but turned it down, rest assured the F.A would have bitten his hand off somewhere near his elbow joint if he had shown the slightest interest, and rightly so. Also (as a Chelsea fan) can i correct you about his sacking by Abramovich, he was fired because of his side's style of play, NOT because of him speaking his mind, which he often did and Abramovich was well aware of his arrogance long before he employed him....What was it Muhammad Ali once said?? "There's nothing wrong with having a big mouth, so long as you can back it up!!" The defence rests......
hey mr tony c, do u know anything about football? i dont think so because if u do u wouldnt say Jose Mourinho didnt win nothing at chelsea
I respect this fellow for his vision! wish him all the best in his future career.
Jose the best.
nowhere does it say he was actually offered it,none story from a braggard
No way he would have only put more Chelski muppets in the side!!
And any way what did he win at Chelski nothing!!
Sure, he considered it but then he realized that he wouldn't be getting a blanj cheque to sign whichever player he wants and manage the team. Mourinho can NEVER be a national coach of any country for that matter, he can only work with rich clubs.
Well,jose is a manager to rechon with,at his age,with lots of achievement?let count how many manager achieved what he had now.He's got the redical approach to his ability
.that is Jose.I need not compare him with the great ALEX and others.Am not his fan but i love all he brought to football in england.
Jose you are a great manager and a great character. one thing here is that people here hate the truth and challenge. don't mind those fools that don't know ur worth. Because of u premier leguea is interested, because of u billionairea want to buy club in England, because of you CHELSEA is one of the best, big and richest club in Europe. Thank God u did not take the England job. even though u will surely succeed if u had. We "CHelsea" fans are wishing u well and we are enjoying our foothball with our new coach. he is also great like u. Please do us proud and shame the enemies if suceess. Goodluck
Some people allow emotion or personal prejudice to overcome their sense of judgement. One fact still remain that Jose is the best irrespective of any personal differences anybody may have against him. I mean we have to call a spade a spade this guy may talk too much but he is good. May be some people should try to know that we are interested in results; we are less bother by how you get it. Jose has gotten results in Portugal and England. Like somebody said only a fool will bet against Jose not having results in Italy with Inter Milan. Whether he has big mouth or small mouth or tiny mouth his results and achievements speak for him. I wish him all the best of luck in Inter Milan.
Some people allow emotion or personal prejudice to overcome their sense of judgement. One fact still remain that Jose is the best irrespective of any personal differences anybody may have against him. I mean we have to call a spade a spade this guy may talk too much but he is good. May be some people should try to know that we are interested in results; we are less bother by how you get it. Jose has gotten results in Portugal and England. Like somebody said only a fool will bet against Jose not having results in Italy with Inter Milan. Whether he has big mouth or small mouth or tiny mouth his results and achievements speak for him. I wish him all the best of luck in Inter Milan.
Thankfully he only thought about it, and thankfully the FA did FA to persuade him. Can you imagin the size of his head if he had been put in charge, and the absolute drivel that would have come out of his mouth, constantly.I don't think I could have listened to all of his big-headed cenre of attraction rubbish.
The guy is all talk, he has met his match at Inter Milan and he can expect little sympathy there if they do not win their league.
If he had just got on with his job at Chelski, and kept his big mouth closed there is a chance that he might still have been there today, but the temptation was too great, motormouth but no brain. Still he made a few bob and at the end of the season he will retire somewhere for a little while before the big mouth opens up again.
Jose, if you thought a bit less of yourself and a bit more about your responsibilities you might be tolerated.
Thankfully he only thought about it, and thankfully the FA did FA to persuade him. Can you imagin the size of his head if he had been put in charge, and the absolute drivel that would have come out of his mouth, constantly.I don't think I could have listened to all of his big-headed cenre of attraction rubbish.
The guy is all talk, he has met his match at Inter Milan and he can expect little sympathy there if they do not win their league.
If he had just got on with his job at Chelski, and kept his big mouth closed there is a chance that he might still have been there today, but the temptation was too great, motormouth but no brain. Still he made a few bob and at the end of the season he will retire somewhere for a little while before the big mouth
Thankfully he only thought about it, and thankfully the FA did FA to persuade him. Can you imagin the size of his head if he had been put in charge, and the absolute drivel that would have come out of his mouth, constantly.I don't think I could have listened to all of his big-headed cenre of attraction rubbish.
The guy is all talk, he has met his match at Inter Milan and he can expect little sympathy there if they do not win their league.
If he had just got on with his job at Chelski, and kept his big mouth closed there is a chance that he might still have been there today, but the temptation was too great, motormouth but no brain. Still he made a few bob and at the end of the season he will retire somewhere for a little while before the big mouth
JOS said NO to the ENGLAND job.............thank god!!!!
Ssir Alex would be my choice once he leaves UTD!!
A miserable git but boy is he a hell of a MANAGER!!!
He is what ENGLAND needs!!
He'd sort out the MEN from the BOYS!!!!
ENGLAND has too many players who are soft!!
Sir Alex can spot players like that!!!!
I'm a LFC fan, so that says ALOT about Sir Alex!!!
HATE his guts but he is the MAN to sort ENGLAND out!!!!
JOSE WAS COOL
Oh boy!!3 MONTHS IN ITALY AND IS ALREADY CRYING !!HE KEEPS TALKING ABOUT HIMSELF HAS ALWAYS AND IS STARTING TO REALIZE IN ITALY YOU HAVE TO WIN AND SHUT UP!!I THINK THE LEAGUE IS MUCH BETTER WITHOUT THIS MOANRINHO WE JUST WANT TO WATCH GOOD FOOTBALL AND THATS IT!!IS PEOPLE LIKE HIM WHO DESTROYED OUR NATIONAL TEAM !!STAY THERE AND DONT COME BACK
He was successful at Porto because of alleged match fixing and alleged bribery of referees. He was 'successful' at chelsea because he had unlimited spending power (although to be honest, under-achieved given the limitless money).
I miss Jose! He would have been great with England, but he made a smart move staying in club football. He had some arrogance to him, but was very honest. I miss them famous press conferences!
Honest man, i like him as a manager...
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