Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has revealed that he was offered the chance to manage Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur in 2007 ahead of the two sides’ Capital One Cup final encounter on Sunday.
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Mourinho left Chelsea in September 2007 after the disintegration of his relationship with club owner Roman Abramovich and was approached by Tottenham following the departure of Martin Jol from North London.
However, due to a clause that prevented him from managing in England again for a period of two years, the Portuguese was unable to consider a move across the City unless a compensation agreement could be reached.
However, he insisted that he would not have taken the job out of loyalty to Chelsea and the club’s supporters.
“Yes. I couldn’t go. I couldn’t train in England for two years,” Mourinho told a press conference when asked about the offer.
“I would not take the job because I love Chelsea supporters too much.”
However, this time around, the former Porto, Inter Milan and Real Madrid manager insists that he would like to remain in English football when his time at Chelsea is done.
“When I left the first time I had lots of countries to go to and lots of clubs to go to,” he added. “In this moment when I leave I have another 19 clubs in the Premier League and 22 clubs in the Championship. So the options are not so much.
“But I repeat I am in Mr Abramovich’s hands. Until he wants me to stay, I will stay – and that is what I want.”
Now in his second spell with the Blues, Mourinho is aiming to secure his first trophy since returning to the club last year when Chelsea take on Spurs at Wembley on Sunday.
Top of the Premier League heading into the final stages of the season, Mourinho will hope that success in the competition which kick-started Chelsea’s success a decade ago will once more be the precursor to the side challenging for bigger honours in the months ahead.