Following Wednesday's defeat in Moscow, the British press has all but decided that England won't be making the Euro 2008 finals (although truth be told, Russia still faces the tough task of needing an away win in Israel on Nov. 13), which means that replacements for Coach Steve McClaren are already being lined up. Top of the English Football Association's wish list according to various reports is former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, whom bookmakers pegged at 7/1 odds to take the helm if McClaren is given the boot.
However, the self-described "Special One" has said he wouldn't return to coaching England before next season, but that declaration, British papers point out, was in reference to coaching a Premier League club. Reports are mixed as to whether the Portuguese would even be interested in coaching a national team. A source tells the Telegraph "that [Mourinho] sees the national side as a challenge and is willing to discuss the job," while the Independent quotes another source who says "he would not be interested" if the FA approached him, adding that Mourinho is "already aware" of where he'd like to go next, presumably an Italian club.
Other possibilities for the job include Aston Villa's Martin O'Neill, whose American boss claims he wouldn't stand in the way if O'Neill were asked to take over as England manager, former Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann (the Independent claims he'd even be willing to move his family from California to London), and less likely, Guus Hiddink, Luiz Felipe Scolari and Frank Rijkaard, who all have (reasonably) steady jobs at the moment.
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