Jose Mourinho spoke up on his career in chat with Manchester United great Rio Ferdinand.
Jose Mourinho acknowledged that he has been approached with a job offer to manage England, but he declined it. The former manager of Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Manchester United is currently unemployed following his dismissal from Roma. In an interview with Rio Ferdinand, he outlined his position on going back into management.
Shortly after Steve McClaren was fired for not qualifying for Euro 2008, Mourinho was strongly linked to the England job in 2007. He had discussions with the FA about potentially taking over, but he declined the national team’s approaches despite having a contract ready to be signed.
Mourinho revealed that he “could have” managed England in the past in a video that was leaked on Ferdinand’s social media accounts. He answered, “I had it there on the table,” pointing to a contract for work. “I didn’t sign because I gave my heart and everything.” I provided choices that, from a professional standpoint, might not have been all that intelligent.”
Inquiries into the Portuguese coach’s tenure in Spain as Real Madrid and Ronaldo’s manager were also made. Under Mourinho, many saw the forward as at the height of his abilities; the manager claimed that the forward did little more than move out of the way of his countryman.
To the question of whether he worked with Ronaldo, he said, “I think you don’t coach.” Reflecting on his tenure at Old Trafford, Mourinho also laid the responsibility for his unfavorable perception on the media.
When questioned about his time at United, Mourinho responded, “I loved my time there,” to Ferdinand. “I doubt the media was helpful to me. I turned down excellent job chances. The fact that it was Portugal made the first one even more difficult to decline. I might serve as their national team coach. And yours, too, England.”