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I was hours away from managing England - Mourinho

Jose Mourinho could have been England manager instead of Fabio Capello © Getty Images

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Current Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has revealed he was "hours away" from becoming England's head coach in 2007, before eventually turning down the opportunity.

Mourinho left Chelsea in September 2007 after three successful years at Stamford Bridge, after falling out with owner Roman Abramovich. He then spent nine months out of the game before joining Inter - with whom he won the Champions League last summer, before heading for Madrid.

However, the Portuguese tactician claims he was very close to succeeding Steve McClaren as head coach of the Three Lions prior to arriving at the Italian club nearly three years ago, before ultimately deciding that he was not yet ready for the particular challenges of international management - paving the way for Fabio Capello's eventual appointment.

"I was hours away - I almost signed up for the England national team," Mourinho told l'Equipe. "But at the last minute I began thinking, 'I am going to coach a national side, there will be one match a month and the rest of the time I will be in my office or overseeing matches. And then to have to wait until the summer to compete in a European Championship or a World Cup'? No, it wasn't for me.

"So at the last moment I pulled back, preferring to wait for the right job to come along, a good club, a challenge that could motivate me. That was Inter."

Mourinho admitted that after leaving the Blues he initially enjoyed his new-found freedom to pursue other projects and interests, but after a few months he was itching to get back into the game as a manager.

"When I left Chelsea, the first month was fantastic. I went to Africa, to Japan, I did tons of things I had not been able to do," he said. "The second month was also good, but from the third onwards it was horrible, just awful."

Mourinho acknowledged he was also offered the chance to take over at Ligue 1 side Paris St Germain during his absence from the game, but decided against taking the reins at the club as he doubted the quality of France's top division.

"I do not know [why I did not take the job]," he said. "Perhaps because of the feeling that England, Spain or Italy are more powerful leagues, and we must make the most of the best years of our career by working at the highest level."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.