Jose Mourinho has confirmed he received an offer from the FA to become England manager after leaving his first spell as Chelsea boss.

The Portuguese was the FA’s top choice to restore order after Steve McClaren’s sacking following England’s failure to qualify for Euro 2008.

Mourinho, who was out of work at the time after leaving Chelsea by mutual consent, admitted coming close to taking the job before later opting against the move.

Speaking exclusively to Rio Ferdinand’s Vibe with Five show, Mourinho lifted the lid on links with the Three Lions and claimed he ‘could have’ taken charge in the past.

"I refused great working opportunities," Mourinho revealed. "The first one was even very hard to refuse because it was Portugal. I could be their coach in the national team.

"Also yours," he added, which sparked Ferdinand to reply ‘no way’.

"Yeah. I had it there, on the table," Mourinho said, referring to a contract. “I’m still there a little bit. It was in 07-08 when Mr Capello got the job

"I didn't (sign) because the national team job is something that I wouldn’t enjoy."

Italian Fabio Capello was later handed the task of leading the Three Lions into a 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign but the appointment turned out to be an underwhelming one.

It brought the curtain down on England’s famous golden generation of stars such as Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Paul Scholes and John Terry.