Sports My Wife told me not to coach the English National Team – Jose Mourinho

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Titilope Adeuja

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Chelsea returnee manager, Jose Mourinho, has revealed that his wife was the reason why he did not take on the opportunity of managing the English national team in 2007.

The chance came to manage England shortly after his first term had ended at Chelsea before Steve McClaren was sacked for failing to qualify for the 2008 European Championships.

McClaren was succeeded by Fabio Capello and Mourinho revealed that he was still tempted to take on the role as his contract terms forbade him to take on any club managerial role for another two years in England.

Named as a World Cup ambassador for internet giant, Yahoo, Mourinho said, "At that time I could not get an English club because of my contract when I left Chelsea... I couldn’t get an English club in the next two years. I could get the national team but not a club.

"Lampard, Terry, Joe Cole, everybody was saying, 'Come, come, come'.

"My players said, 'The guys from Manchester United and Liverpool call us and say to us: Tell your boss to come.'

"I had lots of positive things to push me, (but) my wife told me not to take it and she was right.

"It was the right decision. We are talking about seven years ago and I cannot wait two years for a big competition. I cannot be spending two years playing against Kazakhstan and San Marino.

"What would I do during the week? I could go to see the players training with their teams, I ask for permission to spend time with them and to have individual coaching with them, I have to work with them, I can improve things.

"I'm not going to stay at home, I have to travel, I want to see the players, I want to participate in their evolution, blah, blah, blah, blah. But in the end my wife was saying: 'No football, no matches, is not good for you.'

"And she was right. It was not the job for me seven years ago, it's not the job for me now and I don't think it will be the job for me in seven years' time. Maybe in 15 years from now but not seven."
 
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