I turned down England job, says Mourinho

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho revealed on Tuesday that he was once offered the England manager job but had turned it down.

Speaking ahead of his team’s Champions League clash against Chelsea on Wednesday at Milan’s San Siro, Mourinho was asked about John Terry being removed from the England captaincy but then went on to reveal other information.

“I’m not England manager so I don’t want to comment (on Terry) just as I’m not the Cheslea president so I don’t comment on (Roman) Abramovich’s decisions,” he said.

“I could have been England manager but I didn’t want to, I have no chance of owning Chelsea, though.

“When England came looking for me I was the proudest coach in the world.

“I thought about it a lot. On the one hand I wanted to do it, on the other I knew that it wasn’t the right job for me because I love training every day.

“Hence I decided not to do it and England chose a coach with great experience who I wish my best to.”

Mourinho did not say when he was offered the England job but his last comment was in the present, suggesting his best wishes were directed at Fabio Capello.

Mourinho was a free agent at the time that Steve McLaren was dismissed and replaced by Capello at the end of 2007.

The Portuguese had just left Chelsea by mutual consent.