Mourinho ruled out - reports

Confusion over key contender for England job

By Rob Parrish   Last updated: 9th December 2007

Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho

Mourinho: England target

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Doubts have emerged over Jose Mourinho's interest in the England manager's job, according to reports in the national press.

The former Chelsea boss had emerged as the bookmakers and fans' favourite to replace Steve McClaren who was axed in the wake of England's failure to qualify for Euro 2008.

When questioned by Sky Sports News on Friday as to whether he could be the next England boss, Mourinho responded: "Why not?"

Football Association chief executive Brian Barwick has been charged with the task of appointing McClaren's successor and is believed to have already held talks with Mourinho's agent Jorge Mendes.

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But the News of the World reports that the Portuguese coach has now decided he would prefer to take a job in club football, despite initially showing great interest in the FA's advances.

The Sunday Express also suggests that Mourinho will not take the national job, linking him with a move to Barcelona should under-pressure Frank Rijkaard be axed.

But the Mail on Sunday and the People still have the former Stamford Bridge boss, who won back-to-back Premier League titles with the Blues, firmly in the frame to replace McClaren.

Stay tuned to skysports.com and we will bring you all the latest news on the FA's hunt for the next England boss.

FA contact

And FA director of communications Adrian Bevington insists that they will not be deterred from contacting any managerial targets, even those who have publicly ruled themselves out.

He told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme: "You only find out if someone is prepared to say no once you actually put it to them.

"You cannot work on the basis of what is said in the media. People often have a different opinion when they speak in public than they have in private.

"The only way to find out where someone is on the England job, if you believe they are someone you want to speak to, is when you actually ask them a direct question.

"We should not rule anyone out. Why would we until we have an appointment? It would be very naive of us to do so. We have an open mind."

No deadline

Bevington insists the FA will not be rushed into making an appointment and are determined to get the right man for the job.

He added: "Why would we put a self-imposed deadline on it? There is no need to when we don't have a match until February and don't have a competitive one until September.

"Once we have had some initial calls and once we know what sort of numbers we are talking about, we will get on with it at a pace we feel is appropriate.

"A lot of progress has been made already. We are fully on track and we will not be caught cold. We are determined to get the right calibre of man. Someone who has a real success record in football."

Comments

Joseph Galea (Manchester United fan) says...

Barwick and co will also end up devising a national poll to see who the people want as manager. It's all diplomatics so that it won't bouce on them again. They will say that the new manager was chosen by all and not by the FA. I think that they will also ask the President Bush to see if there is some senator interested in the job. SO SAD. When Chelsea, Juve and Real won silver, Mourinho and Capello were both surrounded by some of the best players in the game and by lots and lots of money. And I have doubts if they are really super managers. But from the two I would choose Capello. At least he will not make the nation blush with his remarks.

Posted 07:59 10th December 2007

Mark Shevill (Manchester United fan) says...

Personally, I was a fan of Mourinho when he was at Chelsea, he showed a great respect to Sir Alex and other managers who showed respect for him. Yes he picked battles with Rafa and Arsene but they also picked battles with him. However, i wouldn't want to see him as England coach, he would be biased to the Chelsea players. Now I'm not saying Lampard isn't a good player but because of his relationship with Frank, Mourinho will play him, either in place of Gerrard or will continue with the failure that is the Gerrard - Lampard partnership. I saw somebody else say Stuart Pierce should be considered for assistant coach but why not the full time position. He is a player that showed bundles of passion for his country and he already commands a great respect among the players. Look at the U21 squad, they've been playing some of the greatest football ever and if any manager in England knows about the up and coming talent to replace or challenge for places, Pierce will be the one who knows them and will have the guts to play them!

Posted 05:23 10th December 2007

Jonathan Broad (Manchester United fan) says...

This is my first comment on here, but hopefully still valid opinion, i feel that mourinho wouldnt be the best manager for the job, true he has the best credentials, but he would be quite biased to the current team, and especially english chelsea players. But again a problem with the english managerial candidates not really having the passion. I might get a bit of stick for this, but i think sticking with Mclaren might have worked, he got the players working when the big names were out injured or suspended, and even dropped some names. he just needed a more vocal assistant, someone who would say to him "you can do that, find the team that works best" to encourage him not to worry about fans or media reaction. i think the FA are right to search around, check out the candidates more, see who wants how much, and not be pressurised, we can have a stand in manager for the friendly if needed, and have ages to get a new manager in (as we failed to make the summer tournament) Just hope to see someone get the team working and more importantly winning. pretty or not, results count. England for the World Cup!! well u have to dream :D thanks if u read this.

Posted 21:32 9th December 2007

Gary Steel (West Bromwich Albion fan) says...

As with Brian Clough Jose will be too big a character for the English FA they will be looking for someone they can tell what to do. With regards to the Scotland job it needs to be someone who has had success without spending money this would rule out Souness and Daglish as for Billy Davies we have just seen what he can do without money the only option can be Craig Levein.

Posted 20:35 9th December 2007

Lizzie Bennett (Newcastle United fan) says...

What's all the fuss about having to have an English manager? I think this is something the press are obsessed about but the average England fan just wants someone to guide the team to victory in a major championship. That means getting the best person for the job, wherever they happen to come from. Mourinho is clearly a stand out candidate and has had success already in England. He has to be the first choice for the FA - how is it taking them so long to make a formal approach? I'd have been on the phone to his agent as soon as McClaren was sacked!

Posted 16:45 9th December 2007

Mary Peacock (Reading fan) says...

Remind me - out of the last handful of England managers - who had the better results? If we had several 'top drawer' English managers to choose from - ok - that is ideally what we'd do, but we haven't. Flat and dull personalities have never brought success to top level football. You folks who talk about an English manager are trying to mould a situation that just is NOT there. Most of the names mentioned were around when the disaster of MacClaren arrived on the scene. I don't care what it takes but I'd like to see England in winning ways and giving the fans something to cheer about. Jose for Manager - warts and all.

Posted 15:40 9th December 2007

Arthur Luke (Liverpool fan) says...

I fear that two managers are required to get the England job resolved to best effect. The first priority (given the lack of urgency in appointing the new coach) should have been sorting out the management of the FA itself. If that were done (sadly little hope) we might look forward with some level of confidence to getting appointed the right team coach - instead of being insulted by the posturing, foot dragging and wall of waffle that masquerades for communication to fans over this appointment. Almost any fan in any club terrace was foretelling the misery that a McClaren appointment would bring. instead of listening to the people who really matter (English fans) we are treated to a masquerade ball of one-footed dancers rather than sprinters getting hold of Mourhino and dragging him back to England. Oh! And with Stuart Pearce or Steve Coppell as assistant.

Posted 15:04 9th December 2007

Michael Moore (Newcastle United fan) says...

Qestion is "do we really need a foreign coach". Our game is based on high tempo football so we should stick to what we are good at. I dont think our players could adapt to playing a differant system to what they do week in week out in the premier league, its been tried in the past & look what happend. we need a british coach who can get the best of what our players are good at. Knowing the FA though, they'll do something totally differant. After all they would not appoint Brian Clough & he was our best manager for years.

Posted 12:45 9th December 2007

Kyle Milburn (Newcastle United fan) says...

Surely someone who wanted the job would say yes, no problems. Mourinho is just going backwards and forwards unable to make his mind up, not something Engalnd fans want to see. Harry Redknapp would bite the hands off the FA in order to be England manager. His passion is second to none and he would do a better job than MOANER MOURINHO, c'mon the FA wake up and get Harry in!!

Posted 12:43 9th December 2007

Mary Peacock (Reading fan) says...

Can we afford the luxury of another dreadful mistake? Absolutely not! Why have the FA not got the sense to just offer Mourinho the job? IF he accepts - great. He is knowledgeable, spirited, passionate, focussed, yes - outspoken - but all within the remit of getting the job done. There was never a better time at Chelsea than when Jose was there - for results and sheer entertainment. Please FA, do not appoint another dull, parochial, untested manager.

Posted 12:39 9th December 2007

Dave Hunter (Chelsea fan) says...

When will the FA ever learn that you need to forget politics and "the old school brigade" and go for the very best option available. At this stage it has to be one from 3 - Mourinho, Cappello or Lippi. They took the easy option when they gave the job to McLaren and it has backfired completely - in what other business can you promote people to a top job when they clearly do not have the experience or qualifications - all 3 of the above do, all 3 are available and all 3 will become disillusioned by procrastination by the FA, just as Martin O'Neill did last time round. Get on with it guys or get out and let someone else with vision do the job and set up the National team for the coming years and restore some pride into the England set up!

Posted 12:36 9th December 2007

Thapelo Mzizi (Arsenal fan) says...

at the current moment england need a manager who is willing to introduce new players to the squad in preparation for 2010, credit to macClaran who did a fantastic job given what he had at his disposal, mourinho would not have done any better, at national level you can not buy foreign players. the media need to refrain from overrating players like Rooney, the boy is not yet a finished product. Other players perhaps even in the lower leagues can challenge for positions. let anyone in the squad know they are not there permanantly, they need competition. England has a big population, at least 10 players should fight for a single position, regardless of the league they play in, but managers like Jose can not be given such a role, he can only do well where there is abundance of world class talented english players but for now england need someone who can build a team from scratch, forgert about the current stars, let everyone come for trials, even Beckham should come for trials, Let the manager pick his best without fear or favour. May God bless English fooball

Posted 12:30 9th December 2007

Zoeb Manji (Arsenal fan) says...

i totally agree with Arsene Wenger. realistically England should appoint an English manager. I agree they have more chance of finding a 'better' manager abroad, but for the foreign manager they appoint it will just be a job like any other managerial role, but an English manager would have the passion to succeed, and i think thats what English football needs. Harry Rednapp for England :D

Posted 12:28 9th December 2007

Cameron Brisbane (Manchester United fan) says...

Jose should be england coach he might even get us to win the world cup !

Posted 11:13 9th December 2007

John Riggott says...

Here we go again talking about English influence, I am not happy about the effect that the said English Influence would have on the national team. am sorry that Jose Morinho looks as if he won't take the job, I would like to see someone as manager who could insist that they play together as one! and with a Captain, like Beckham was, in his better days, also someone who could try to install an attitude as one finds in the Brazilian national team, where the manager is charged with moving the adrenalin in the players, so that the only thing in their minds is to win, just like when one is on the golf course and after 15 minutes on the course the most important thing in your life is to get the stupid small white ball in the hole. Before an important game, our trainer/manager always took us all to play a round of golf. It helps one to concentrate. The only candidates in my mind, however rediculous it may seem, are Jose Morinho, Rafael Benitez, Sir Alex Ferguson, and similar. oh! and I am fortunate and remember the attitude of the TEAM that won the World Cup in 1966!

Posted 11:10 9th December 2007

John Riggott says...

Here we go again talking about English influence, I am not happy about the effect that the said English Influence would have on the national team. I am sorry that Jose Morinho looks as if he won't take the job, I would like to see someone as manager who could insist that they play together as one! and with a Captain, like Beckham was, in his better days, also someone who could try to install an attitude as one finds in the Brazilian national team, where the manager is charged with moving the adrenalin in the players, so that the only thing in their minds is to win, just like when one is on the golf course and after 15 minutes on the course the most important thing in your life is to get the stupid small white ball in the hole. Before an important game, our trainer/manager always took us all to play a round of golf. It helps one to concentrate. The only candidates in my mind, however ridiculous it may seem, are Jose Morinho, Rafael Benitez, Sir Alex Ferguson, and similar. oh! and I am fortunate and remember the attitude of the TEAM that won the World Cup in 1966!

Posted 11:10 9th December 2007

Sharan Parikh (Manchester United fan) says...

I feel that the FA is struggling with finding the courage to appoint Jose Mourinho. His character and presence are possibly too over-powering for them and it would be more from a selfish point of view that they do not appoint him than on a lack of managerial calibre! My message to the FA would be: If you got guts - go with Mourinho! (this is from a Manchester United fan!)

Posted 11:08 9th December 2007

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