"Not his first choice, but his only choice" - Mourinho confirms job rejection

14 January 2023 , 07:15

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Jose Mourinho won the Europa Conference League in his first season at Roma (Image: Getty Images)

Jose Mourinho has revealed he turned down the opportunity to take over as Portugal manager after the dismissal of Fernando Santos.

Santos, who led the national team to Euro 2016 glory, was relieved of his duties after the 2022 World Cup. Portugal topped their group and beat Switzerland comfortably in the last 16, but suffered a surprise defeat to Morocco at the quarter-final stage.

After a few weeks of searching for their new manager, the country's FA opted for former Belgium boss Roberto Martinez. However, according to new comments from Mourinho, the Roma manager was very much in the mix before saying no to the role.

Mourinho admitted he was "proud" after the approach from the Portuguese FA. However, having won the Europa Conference League with Roma last season, he ultimately opted to remain in the Italian capital.

"The fact that the president of the FPF said that I was not his first choice, but his only choice, makes me proud," the former Chelsea manager said, per Cabine Sport. "But I decided not to go. I'm here and that's what matters."

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Roma finished sixth in Serie A last season, and have flirted with the Champions League spots under Mourinho this term. They recently dropped to seventh, though, having won just one of their last five league games either side of the World Cup.

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Jose Mourinho has remained at Roma despite Portugal's interest (Shuji Kajiyama/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

One of the biggest questions facing new Portugal manager Martinez is the international future of Cristiano Ronaldo. The veteran was dropped to the bench by Santos for the two knockout games at the World Cup, with differing results, and has since completed a move to Saudi club Al-Nassr.

"Football decisions have to be taken on the field of play," Martinez told reporters after being confirmed in his new role. "I'm not an office decision-making coach. So my starting point is to get to all the players and I want to get in touch with them.

"The list of 26 players from the World Cup is my starting point and Cristiano is a player on that list, he has been with the national team for 19 years and he deserves the respect of being able to sit down and talk.

"From there it is to create, in ten weeks, the best team for our matches, for the qualification for the European Championship. Today is a day of satisfaction. Tomorrow we will start working, getting to know all the players and Cristiano is one of them."

Portugal have been drawn against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Luxembourg, Slovakia and Liechtenstein in their qualifying group for Euro 2024. Their first game will come against Liechtenstein in Lisbon on March 23.

Tom Victor