Jose Mourinho reveals he turned down chance to replace Steve McClaren as England manager in 2007

Jose Mourinho has revealed he rebuffed the Football Association's attempts to make him Steve McClaren's successor as England manager.

The Portuguese has been tipped to take charge of the Three Lions on numerous occasions since first coming to the Premier League with Chelsea in 2004.

He is currently out of work after being sacked by Roma in January. That has once again led to speculation that the former Real Madrid boss might step into the international arena for the first time.

, he says he only has eyes for club football.

"I could have been the coach of [the England] national team," he admits. “I had it there on the table.

"[I turned it down] because I always had national team jobs as something I wouldn’t enjoy."

The FA came calling when a nightmare defeat to Croatia at Wembley in 2007 meant England failed to qualify for the 2008 European Championships, the only major tournament they have missed since the 1994 World Cup.

McClaren was subsequently given the boot, and was eventually replaced Fabio Capello, who remained at the helm until 2012, with the Italian resigning ahead of that summer's European Championships when John Terry was stripped of the captain's armband.

In the years since, Mourinho has continued to be linked with the position, but has instead remained in club football, taking charge of the likes of Manchester United and Spurs.

But he has still had his say on England's chances at Euro 2024, where he believes Gareth Southgate's side have the ability to go all the way.

“It is a very good generation,” he added. “They got to the Euro 2020 final, they can do it.

“The mentality of the guys who have gone abroad, [Jude] Bellingham for example, I believe there is something that separates him from the boys that were born in England, developed in England, and are playing in England.

"He can add something different, he is a kid of the world. He has a big, big personality.

“Southgate with Steve Holland, he was my assistant at Chelsea and what a person, they’ve done a beautiful job there, but it’s just missing that little bit.

"I cannot say I wish they do it [win the Euros] because I think Portugal can do it and I wish Portugal do it.”

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