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Mourinho recounts why he declined managerial offers from England, Portugal

Mr Mourhino considers national team role as only befitting the twilight of this campaign

• June 12, 2021
Jose Mourinho
Jose Mourinho (Credit: express.co.uk)

Portuguese tactician and new AS Roma coach, Jose Mourinho, has revealed the motives behind his refusal to accept managerial roles offered to him by the English and Portuguese national teams.

Mourinho stated that his successful managerial career at Chelsea between 2004-2007 had attracted the English FA who offered him a managerial contract.

He disclosed this in an interview with The Sun.

The 58-year-old tactician who won the UEFA Champions League twice with FC Porto in 2004 and Inter Milan in 2010 added that he felt it was “too early” for him to switch to national team managerial roles.

The “special one” has enjoyed successful club managerial adventures across Europe starting from FC Porto where he won the Primeira Liga and Champions League; English Premier League with three Premier League titles won with Chelsea: two Italian Serie A titles with Inter Milan; one La Liga title with Real Madrid and the UEFA Europa League with Manchester United.

The Portuguese FA also made managerial offers to Mourinho after he left Real Madrid. Mourinho described the role as “a crazy part-time job” befitting for the terminal part of his career.

Managers like Sir Alex Ferguson, Vincente Del Bosque, Guus Hiddink and Miguel Herrera are amongst football managers who were able to successfully switch from National team to Club careers.

Mourinho have not won a domestic league title in six years with his attempts at Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspurs all resulting in futility in those six years.

Awarded the World Best Coach of the 21st century by IFFHS in 2001-2020, Mourinho concluded by stating that the national teams managerial roles will be considered later in his career.

Club football is designed with just a seasonal break usually spreading for three months in top European countries and has more activity and excitement compared to national t ineam football. The major tournaments are played under schedules of once in 2-4 years with most of their games being friendlies and qualifiers.

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