LION HEART ... Jose was nearly England boss

JOSE MOURINHO last night insisted: "I was just hours away from becoming England boss."

The Special One claimed he snubbed the FA back in December 2007 - in a clear hint that Fabio Capello only got the nod after Mourinho turned the job down.

Former Chelsea chief Mourinho spoke for the first time about the FA's failed pursuit of the man England fans desperately wanted to see take charge of the Three Lions.

Although the FA strenuously insisted last night Capello was always their first choice, Mourinho's claims have raised question marks.

Mourinho insisted he almost agreed a deal to succeed sacked Steve McClaren after England's abject failure to reach Euro 2008.

He said: "I was hours away - I almost signed up for the England national team.

"But at the last minute I began thinking 'I am 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. So at the last moment I pulled back, preferring to wait for the right job to come along, a good club - a challenge that could motivate me. That was Inter."

Talks had taken place in early December 2007 and Mourinho was ready to make a sensational return just months after his acrimonious departure from Chelsea where he won two league titles, the FA Cup and two Carling Cups.

But in the end, Mourinho decided to bide his time and eventually took charge of Italian giants Inter at the end of the 2007-8 season.

An FA spokesman last night insisted: "Fabio was our first choice for England manager. We have made that clear from the outset."

Mourinho led Inter to back-to-back Serie A titles and won the Treble - the League title, domestic cup and Champions League - last season before moving to the Bernabeu to take charge of Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Next week he is set to face Tottenham in the Champions League after ending a seven-year itch for Madrid and guiding them to the quarter-finals for the first time since 2004.

Mourinho won the trophy last year, beating his beloved Chelsea on the way - and now a nightmare scenario has unfolded for the Special One.

Should Madrid beat Tottenham and then Barcelona - huge favourites against Shakhtar Donetsk - to get to the final, Mourinho could be pitted against former clubs Chelsea or Inter at Wembley.

And he revealed that last season after the first leg against Chelsea which had ended 1-1, some of his Inter players had actually APOLOGISED for celebrating the goal they scored.

He added: "It's the impossible question. Before the draw I said I didn't want either of them because emotionally it's difficult.

"It's not the same joy to win against any team as to win against your ex-team, your ex-players."

Mourinho was torn when his Inter team eliminated Chelsea after winning the second leg at Stamford Bridge.

And he even admitted he cried in the dressing room afterwards.

He said: "I remember last year after the game at the San Siro some of my Inter players came and said 'Boss, sorry for celebrating our goal'. And I said 'But what are you apologising for? You have to celebrate our goal'."

Mourinho also revealed: "I read the Bible and I pray but I never ask for things about football.

"The things in our personal life are incomparably more important than football."

Mourinho's worst night in football came at the Nou Camp earlier this season when Madrid were thrashed 5-0 by Barcelona.

And he is certain to need the Almighty's help as Madrid face Barca twice in the space of four days next month in La Liga and the Copa Del Rey final.

They could even face their hated Catalan enemies in the semi-finals of the Champions League.

Many believe if Madrid were to lose to Barcelona on all three fronts, the hugely-popular Mourinho would get the sack - despite the adulation of the Bernabeu fans. But Mourinho insisted that even if he lost to Barca every time, it would not be the end of the world.

And in any case, the door would be open for a return to England should he get the axe.

He said: "Nothing would happen if Barcelona beat us three times.

"They would win the League and the Cup and they would be in the semi-final of the Champions League. Great for them and bad for us.

"For sure I could be happy if I flopped in Madrid.

"There are managers who flop at every club. Why not me?

"When I don't have success I try to find the reasons.

"After Madrid I will go to England where I've enjoyed working the most.

"And I want to finish my career with the Portugal national team."