England job will not go to Jose Mourinho as the Football Association look elsewhere for a new manager
The Football Association has ruled out a move for Jose Mourinho as it seeks a permanent replacement for Fabio Capello as England manager.
The Portuguese has popular support among both players and supporters and is known to be unsettled at Real Madrid, where he has been in charge since 2010.
Mourinho was recently photographed house hunting in London but is not believed to be interested in the England job while the FA has privately dismissed suggestions he is a leading contender for the role.
Harry Redknapp remains the front-runner to replace Capello although the FA reiterated yesterday that it had yet to make formal contact with any candidate.
The possibility remains that no appointment will be made until May, just a few weeks before the start of the European Championships 2012, and there is even a chance that Stuart Pearce, currently in temporary charge, could be asked to oversee the side at the tournament.
Alex Horne, the FA general secretary, insisted that the governing body had drawn up a “strong list” of candidates for the job and confirmed that several of those managers were currently employed in club football.