Mourinho willing to talk to FA about England job

LONDON, Nov 28 (Reuters) Former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho has invited the Football Association (FA) to approach him about the vacant England manager's job, British media reported.

The Portuguese parted company with Chelsea in September after three successful years at Stamford Bridge.

''You will have to speak to the FA to see if they are interested in offering me the job,'' Mourinho was quoted as saying in today's Sun newspaper.

''I cannot say what I think until they say they are interested.

''Tell the FA to come and get me. We will have to wait and see, but I rule nothing out.'' Mourinho won two Premier League titles, two League Cups and the FA Cup after joining Chelsea in 2004, shortly after steering Porto to the Champions League title.

England are without a manager after Steve McClaren was sacked last week following the 3-2 defeat by Croatia which cost them a place at next year's European Championship.

Mourinho remains a respected figure among many fans in English football and would be a strong candidate for a job that would start in earnest with 2010 World Cup qualifying next year.

Italian coach Fabio Capello, Aston Villa's Martin O'Neill and Portsmouth's Harry Redknapp have also been tipped for the job, despite O'Neill ruling himself out of the running.

REUTERS SSC KP109