FA approaches Mourinho for England job

Reports claim the English Football Association have finally contacted the former Chelsea manager’s agent for the coach’s post

LONDON: Former Chelsea manager has been contacted, through his agent, by the Football Association (The FA), with the possibility of him taking over as the England coach, reports the BBC.

“Mourinho’s agent Jorge Mendes has been approached by the FA about the job, although reports that the Portuguese is already in London are wide of the mark,” the paper said.

According to reports in the British media, the FA has drawn up a shortlist of five or six contenders and the 44-year-old Portuguese is on that list.

While in England he is being considered a frontrunner for the post, but Mourinho himself is not looking at the job as a first choice. It is believed that he is interested in joining the Spanish club Real Madrid.

“He is said to be considering it, but it is not his first-choice opening. He still has very strong interest in what might develop at the top two Spanish clubs, particularly Real Madrid.

 FA’s consultation process is all but complete. Brian Barwick, the chief executive, and Trevor Brooking have taken their soundings from within the game and as a result we could know the identity of Steve McClaren’s successor before Christmas,” the paper said.

The said that the FA’s shortlist will include Mourinho, Fabio Capello, Martin O’Neill, Marcello Lippi and Jurgen Klinsmann. Aston Villa boss O’Neill, who has twice attempted to rule himself out of the running. But the Italian Fabio Capello has said he would like to manage England.

Meanwhile, the British press has even suggested that Mourinho arrived in the UK for a interview with the FA on Thursday night.

But The Telegraph says that its sources in Portugal have dismissed these rumours ‘as wide of the mark and that the self-proclaimed Special One is still at home in Setubal.’ The FA insists that no interview has been arranged.

The Telegraph goes on to say that ‘Fabio Capello has already been interviewed for the position. The 61-year-old former AC Milan and Real Madrid coach is thought to have held talks with the FA in Milan last Friday, during which time he outlined his plans for the job and who he would want as part of his backroom staff.’

It is understood that, if offered the job, Capello would bring in Franco Baldini and Gianfranco Zola.