Jose Mourinho has revealed that he rejected the opportunity to replace Steve McClaren as England manager in 2007.
McClaren, now an assistant coach at Manchester United, spent just over a year in charge of the Three Lions and was sacked in November 2007 after failing to qualify for Euro 2008.
Mourinho has been consistently linked with taking over a national team job throughout his career ever since he successfully steered Chelsea to successive Premier League titles in 2004-05 and 2005-06.
England eventually appointed Italian boss Fabio Capello as their second-ever foreign manager, after Mourinho opted to join Inter Milan in the summer of 2008 following his exit from Chelsea.
"I could have been the coach of [the England] national team," Mourinho told Rio Ferdinand on the Vibe with Five podcast. "I had it there on the table.
"[I turned it down] because I always had national team jobs as something I wouldn't enjoy. It was in 2007-08 and Mr Capello got the job."
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Capello, who spent just over four years in charge of England between December 2007 and February 2012, boasts the best win percentage (66.7%) of any Three Lions manager to have coached multiple games.
However, Capello decided to resign from his post just four months before the start of Euro 2012 following the Football Association's decision to strip John Terry of the captaincy without consulting the then 65-year-old.
England have since unearthed a host of promising players under current manager Gareth Southgate, who has reached the 2018 World Cup semi-finals and the Euro 2020 final during his reign.
The Three Lions are considered as one of the favourites to go all the way at Euro 2024 and win their first major trophy in 58 years, and Mourinho has been impressed by this generation of national team stars at Southgate's disposal.
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"It is a very good generation," said Mourinho. "They got to the Euro [2020] final, they can [win Euro 2024].
"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 Euro 2024) because I think Portugal can do it and I wish Portugal do it."
Mourinho has been tipped to potentially succeed Southgate as England boss amid reports that the latter could end his spell in the Three Lions dugout after Euro 2024.
The 61-year-old, who was sacked by Roma last month after two-and-a-half years with the Serie A club, has also been linked with the Portugal national team job, which is currently occupied by Roberto Martinez.
Oliver Thomas
