JOSE Mourinho has revealed he turned down the chance to join Tottenham after leaving Chelsea in 2007.
Mourinho left Stamford Bridge by mutual consent in September 2007 after a number of disagreements with Roman Abramovich but his chance to move to White Hart Lane was blocked by an exit clause which prevented the 52-year-old from managing in England for two years.
”I couldn’t go. I could not train in England for two years,” Mourinho said of a potential switch to Spurs.
When asked if he would have made the move to north London, Mourinho replied: “No, because I love Chelsea supporters too much.”
The Chelsea manager has also reiterated his desire to finish his career at Chelsea but admits he would remain in English football if he were to ever leave Stamford Bridge.
“I don’t want to go away. I will stay here in this chair until owner Mr Abramovich tells me ‘Jose, it’s enough’,” said Mourinho.
“If one day he tells me ‘Jose it’s enough’ I will go to my house in London and I wait for another English club.
“When I left the first time I had lots of countries to go to and lots of clubs to go to. 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. I am not thinking about leaving, I want to stay at Chelsea for the rest of my career.”