Jose Mourinho today claimed he turned down the chance to become England manager when Steve McClaren was sacked in 2007.
The Real Madrid boss says he was close to accepting the position after England failed to qualify for Euro 2008 but decided to continue working in club football. At the time, Mourinho was unemployed, having been sacked by Chelsea in September 2007.
"I was hours away. I almost signed up for the English national side," Mourinho told L'Equipe. "But at the last moment I began thinking: 'I am going to coach a national side, there will be one match a month and the rest of the time I will be in my office or supervising matches. And then to have to wait until the summer to compete in a European Championship or a World Cup?'
"No, it wasn't for me. So at the last moment I pulled back, preferring to wait for the right job to come along, a good club, a challenge that could motivate me. That was Inter Milan."
But the Football Association said today that Fabio Capello had always been their top target for the post. A spokesperson added: "He was our first choice as England manager and we made this clear from the outset."
Mourinho's success in Italy suggests that he made the right decision. The Portuguese took charge of Inter in the summer of 2008 and, two years later, he led them to the Champions League title and did the Italian League and Cup double in the same season.
These achievements persuaded Madrid to hire Mourinho last summer, although he is already being linked with a return to the Premier League next season.
