Jose Mourinho has once again refused to rule himself out of the running to succeed Steve McClaren as England coach, despite Arsene Wenger's claim the job should go to an Englishman.With Mourinho, Fabio Capello, Marcello Lippi, Jurgen Klinsmann and Ulsterman Martin O'Neill the current bookies' favourites, there appears little chance of Wenger's plea being heeded, even though he was one the major footballing figures the Football Association have consulted over the job.
However, Soho Square chiefs remain optimistic there will be some English presence within the new coaching team, no matter who is eventually appointed.
Mourinho remains the most popular choice and amid reports he had flown into London for talks with FA chief executive Brian Barwick, the former Chelsea boss emerged from his home in Setubal and continued a game of cat-and-mouse which leaves no-one clear about his intentions.
Rather than either commit to the job - as Capello did almost as soon as McClaren was dumped - or reject the idea of it, as some fear the 44-year-old will to pursue a career in club management, Mourinho again skirted around the issue.
"Why not?" was his reply when asked if he could be the next England manager by Sky Sports. Mourinho then went on to reveal why he had cancelled a trip to the UK.
He declared: "I am in Portugal. I would like to be in London with my family for a couple of days but nobody would believe the reason why I would be there - to see friends and family and do some Christmas shopping.
"So to try to stop the speculation I decided not to go and stay here. It is sunny and beautiful."
