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JOSE MOURINHO wants to manage Portugal before rolling credits on his glittering career.
That is according to Chelsea hero Frank Leboeuf, who claims Mourinho told him he wants to have a crack at international football after 24 years of club management.
The Portuguese tactician was sacked by Roma last week following a string of poor results that saw the Serie A giants slumping to eighth place in the table.
The ex-Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United boss is now searching for his next destination, with rumours linking him to a move to Saudi Arabia or a Premier League return to Newcastle.
However, Leboeuf claims he knows one team the Special One definitely wishes to take over at some point after a conversation they had in Los Angeles.
And that is none other than his own national team, but as things stand the 60-year-old will have to wait until after Euro 2024.
That is because Roberto Martinez has already led Cristiano Ronaldo and co to the finals in Germany and much will depend on how far the ex-Everton boss can take the Euro 2016 champions.
Leboeuf told ESPN: "I remember interviewing Mr Mourinho when he was at Madrid or Chelsea when he came over to Los Angeles.
"He admitted that the last thing he would love to do in his coaching career would be to get the Portuguese national team job. I think that’s going to be his goal.
"It’s tricky right now with Roberto but I really think he can be patient and see how it goes during the Euros and then maybe jump into the seat if he has the chance to."
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This comes after Mourinho rejected a lucrative offer from Saudi side Al-Shabab.
The former Real Madrid manager was also spotted arriving in Barcelona.
Speculation suggested Newcastle could also be a possible destination with the megarich Magpies slumping down to 10th place in the Premier League table under Eddie Howe.