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Jose Mourinho doesn't want to become England's soccer coach.
The former Chelsea manager withdrew Monday following talks with Football Association officials Brian Barwick and Trevor Brooking.
"After Steve McClaren departed the England football team, my representatives had contacts with the FA," Mourinho said in a statement released through his agent, Jorge Mendes.
"Following that, I, myself, had interesting conversations with Brian Barwick and Trevor Brooking with whom I exchanged ideas with a view to evaluating the current situation of the English national team and the aims that would be pursued if I were in fact invited to take this post.
"After reflecting at length, I took the decision to exclude myself from the possibility of becoming the England manager even though I regard it as a wonderful job."
The FA fired McClaren three weeks ago after England failed to qualify for the 2008 European Championship.
Fabio Capello, Marcello Lippi and Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill are the leading candidates.
Capello, the former AC Milan and Real Madrid coach, and Lippi, who led Italy to its World Cup triumph last year, are both available. Villa's American owner, Randy Lerner, has been quoted as saying he would not stand in O'Neill's way if England wanted to appoint him.
"I am sure the FA will hire a great manager who will be able to put the England team in the position where it belongs," Mourinho said. "I repeat that I have a lot of respect for English football and that after passing three good years in England, I firmly believe that country's national team will soon get back to winning ways."
The former Chelsea manager withdrew Monday following talks with Football Association officials Brian Barwick and Trevor Brooking.
"After Steve McClaren departed the England football team, my representatives had contacts with the FA," Mourinho said in a statement released through his agent, Jorge Mendes.
"Following that, I, myself, had interesting conversations with Brian Barwick and Trevor Brooking with whom I exchanged ideas with a view to evaluating the current situation of the English national team and the aims that would be pursued if I were in fact invited to take this post.
"After reflecting at length, I took the decision to exclude myself from the possibility of becoming the England manager even though I regard it as a wonderful job."
The FA fired McClaren three weeks ago after England failed to qualify for the 2008 European Championship.
Fabio Capello, Marcello Lippi and Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill are the leading candidates.
Capello, the former AC Milan and Real Madrid coach, and Lippi, who led Italy to its World Cup triumph last year, are both available. Villa's American owner, Randy Lerner, has been quoted as saying he would not stand in O'Neill's way if England wanted to appoint him.
"I am sure the FA will hire a great manager who will be able to put the England team in the position where it belongs," Mourinho said. "I repeat that I have a lot of respect for English football and that after passing three good years in England, I firmly believe that country's national team will soon get back to winning ways."
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