Jose Mourinho has turned down Portugal TWICE after the 61-year-old reveals previous offers for the national team and how Real Madrid president Florentino Perez once told him he had ‘no chance’

Jose Mourinho has sensationally revealed that he twice turned down the chance to become head coach of the Portuguese national team and was once stopped from taking up the position by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.

The 61-year-old is currently out of a managerial role after he left his position as Roma’s head coach in January and the club’s board decided to make a change on the bench.

Mourinho is looking forward to getting back to work after revealing he had offers from clubs across Europe and Saudi Arabia and wants to return to management this summer.

However, the former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester United manager could work at the upcoming European Championships if he decides to take over for his homeland.

In an interview with Fabrizio Romano, Mourinho explained that Portugal wanted him as their best coach when he was in Madrid and just a few months ago when he was still employed by Roma.

Jose Mourinho sensationally revealed that he twice turned down the opportunity to become head coach of the Portuguese national team

Mourinho explained how he was last offered the job in his home country before he was sacked by Roma in January

Mourinho admitted that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez (left) advised him against joining Portugal

“In my opinion, in the case of Portugal, the door was open twice. “Please come and the place is yours,” he said.

“I was once at Real Madrid and my goal was to become a part-time coach of Portugal, and then I realized that President Florentino [Perez] he told me it was impossible.

“Easy to accept, the second time: “Do I wish I had taken it?” because a few months later I was released in Rome. I have no regrets,” Mourinho said.

I don’t regret it because I didn’t accept the reason why I didn’t agree. I’m happy for the reason, so I don’t regret that I’ll be coaching the national team tomorrow. If you ask me tomorrow, I’m not sure I’ll do it. he was supposed to be happy.

“If you tell me before the World Cup, before the Euro, before Copa America, before the Africa Cup, I will say yes. But two years of waiting for it to work, I don’t know. Maybe one day I will agree,” he added.

Roberto Martinez became Portugal manager last year and has yet to be beaten

Portugal fired former manager Fernando Santos in 2022 after being eliminated in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Qatar, where Argentina won the title.

Mourinho was one of the hot favorites for the job, but he decided to stay as Roma coach, and Santos was replaced by Roberto Martinez.

The former Belgium boss was similarly heavily criticized after the World Cup, which coincided with the national team’s embarrassing exit from the group stage.

However, Martinez has flourished since arriving in the Mediterranean with Portugal and boasts a 100% win record after 11 games.