Jose Mourinho is available, but will England come calling?

LONDON (AP) -- Back-to-back league titles in his first seasons in English soccer suggest Jose Mourinho would be the ideal man to revive England's national team.

All the former Chelsea manager is waiting for is an approach from the Football Association

If the FA stays true to form, however, the call may never come.

The traditionally conservative leaders of English soccer have a reputation for hiring coaches who toe the party line and keep a diplomatic silence on controversial issues.

Sven-Goran Eriksson couldn't avoid hitting the headlines for his colorful private life but never said anything out of line about soccer matters. Steve McClaren, fired two weeks ago after England failed to qualify for the Euro 2008 championship, also refused to criticize his rivals, referees or, more important, his bosses.

Look at the list of coaches the FA has hired over the years.

Ron Greenwood, Bobby Robson, Graham Taylor, Terry Venables, Glenn Hoddle and Kevin Keegan also did nothing to antagonize the FA. But they didn't win anything at international level. The FA refused to appoint the man regarded the best for the job, Brian Clough, because he was considered something of a liability.

Clough led Derby County and Nottingham Forest to their first league titles and took Forest to consecutive European Cup triumphs during a golden era for English club soccer. But Clough didn't get the job he really wanted -- coach of England -- because he didn't fit the FA's mold.

When Derby was beaten and eliminated by Juventus in the 1973 European Cup semifinal, he called the Italian players "cheats." As Forest manager, he described a referee after a UEFA Cup semifinal loss to Anderlecht as "crooked" and, during a league game, chased and punched a fan who had run onto the field.

Mourinho has some of the Clough style of management. While Mourinho called himself the "Special One" because of his achievements and potential to win more, Clough said: "I wouldn't say I was the best manager in the business. But I was in the top one."

Mourinho is fluent in several languages and speaks his mind on a variety of issues, mostly to support his players, often to justify his opinion and sometimes to rile the opposition.

It's a style that has made the Portugues coach popular with fans of his own team but infuriated his rivals. During his 3 1/2 years at Chelsea, Mourinho became friendly with Manchester United's Alex Ferguson but upset Arsenal's Arsene Wenger and Liverpool's Rafa Benitez.

His colorful quotes also made him very popular with the media. But the FA may be terrified of appointing someone who may even be critical of his own bosses, the same people who have failed to find anyone to lead the team to a title since Alf Ramsey in 1966.

Appointed by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich after leading FC Porto to the 2004 Champions League title, Mourinho left the Blues in September after warring with billionaire Russian owner Roman Abramovich.

It was Abramovich, rather than Mourinho, who brought in AC Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko. The coach felt the owner was undermining his authority.

Mourinho's media adviser, Eladio Parames, said Monday the former Chelsea manager would be interested in hearing from the FA.

"It would be an honor. He likes English soccer, the English people, the country, the players. It would be something he'd consider," Parames said. "But he's not waving his hand in the air trying to get (the FA's) attention. If he's approached, he'll reply."

The FA isn't exactly waving its hand, either.

While many potential candidates have been mentioned in the media -- from former AC Milan and Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello to former England captain Alan Shearer -- the FA says there's no hurry to appoint anyone.

Because England failed to qualify for next year's European Championship -- the first time since the 1994 World Cup it didn't reach a major championship -- the national team has nothing but exhibitions to play before qualifying starts next season for the 2010 World Cup.

But that means talented players like Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard, John Terry, Frank Lampard, Owen Hargreaves and Joe Cole have no one to guide them for the foreseeable future. David Beckham is stuck at 99 international appearances not knowing whether he will reach the 100 mark.

If England is going to make a run for a major title, the FA can't afford to dither or wait for another yes-man to come along.

Mourinho is available now and waiting for the call.