José Mourinho has admitted that he would not be able to turn down the Manchester United job, but insists he does not expect a vacancy to arrive at the end of next season.
The Inter Milan coach has emerged as a possible successor to the evergreen Sir Alex Ferguson in recent months, and the speculation intensified last week when Sir Alex's son, Darren, said his father would only complete one further season at the Theatre of Dreams.
And Mourinho, who revealed he still enjoys a friendly relationship with the Scot, has dropped the biggest hint yet that he is ready to assume the Old Trafford hotseat, should he be offered the job.
"Who can say no? Nobody could say ‘no’," the Portuguese responded when aksed if he would be interested in taking over at the Red Devils.
"Manchester United belongs to a small group of clubs around the world where nobody can say ‘no’.
"But I don’t believe he is leaving in 2010. I think year after year he is the same, he's exactly the same person - healthy, happy - so I don't see a reason for him to quit.
"And in a very fair way, I hope he still goes, I hope he still goes on, because he's good."
He added in an interview with ESPN: "I think we have some points in common; huge ambition, desire, big pleasure in football.
"The fact he's almost 70 and he keeps saying he still enjoys his work is exactly the feeling I have at 45. I look to my 60s, and for sure I will have the same kind of mentality I have today.
"Close relation with the players, and with our club fans, so yes I think we have some points in common, and also after matches, we have in common, the fact that we know how to lose and we know how to win.
"So that's why after 14 matches we have played between us - Porto with Manchester, Chelsea with Manchester and Inter with Manchester - we play 14 matches against each other, I win, he wins, we draw and after the game the respect is there and a good feeling is there."
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The Inter Milan coach has emerged as a possible successor to the evergreen Sir Alex Ferguson in recent months, and the speculation intensified last week when Sir Alex's son, Darren, said his father would only complete one further season at the Theatre of Dreams.
And Mourinho, who revealed he still enjoys a friendly relationship with the Scot, has dropped the biggest hint yet that he is ready to assume the Old Trafford hotseat, should he be offered the job.
"Who can say no? Nobody could say ‘no’," the Portuguese responded when aksed if he would be interested in taking over at the Red Devils.
"Manchester United belongs to a small group of clubs around the world where nobody can say ‘no’.
"But I don’t believe he is leaving in 2010. I think year after year he is the same, he's exactly the same person - healthy, happy - so I don't see a reason for him to quit.
"And in a very fair way, I hope he still goes, I hope he still goes on, because he's good."
He added in an interview with ESPN: "I think we have some points in common; huge ambition, desire, big pleasure in football.
"The fact he's almost 70 and he keeps saying he still enjoys his work is exactly the feeling I have at 45. I look to my 60s, and for sure I will have the same kind of mentality I have today.
"Close relation with the players, and with our club fans, so yes I think we have some points in common, and also after matches, we have in common, the fact that we know how to lose and we know how to win.
"So that's why after 14 matches we have played between us - Porto with Manchester, Chelsea with Manchester and Inter with Manchester - we play 14 matches against each other, I win, he wins, we draw and after the game the respect is there and a good feeling is there."
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