PARIS (AP) Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has said he turned down an offer to become England manager before the appointment of Fabio Capello.

In an interview with L'Equipe sports newspaper published Monday, Mourinho said he was set to succeed Steve McClaren after leaving Chelsea but changed his mind at the last minute after realizing he would quickly be bored to death.

"I was hours away, I almost signed up for the England national team," Mourinho said. "But at the last minute I began thinking: 'I'm going to coach a national side, there will be one match a month and the rest of the time I will be in my office or overseeing matches. And then to have to wait until the summer to compete in a European Championship or a World Cup?' No, it wasn't for me."