IN DEMAND: Jose Mourinho has been linked to a few high-profile jobs since leaving Chelsea. -- PHOTO: AFP

But, the self-proclaimed Special One is waiting for the Football Association to contact him.

The 44-year-old Portuguese believes he can extract the best from an England squad regularly labelled world-class despite rarely delivering performances to match.

He 'will be disappointed' if he is not approached, the Observer added, without citing the Portuguese coach.

It is believed that his family would also welcome a return to England.

England are without a manager after the FA sacked Steve McClaren on Thursday for failing to steer the team into the 2008 European Championship.

However, the FA will have to act fast.

Mourinho's agent, Jorge Mendes, has reportedly been contacted by Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid to prepare him for an opening at either club.

Worse, not only are Real and Barcelona interested, Liverpool's American owners may also be in the running for the Portuguese coach's services.

They are fed up with Rafael Benitez's bickering over transfers and are preparing to sack him, according to the News of the World.

Despite being told to concentrate on winning games with the players currently at his disposal, the Liverpool manager was in no mood to be gagged.

After Saturday's 3-0 win over Newcastle, Benitez was again on the case of American tycoons Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

'I am the manager of this club, and the team and the squad are my responsibility,' he said. 'I think everyone involved wants the best for the club, but the Americans do not understand how the transfer window works as well as I do.

'They need to understand how difficult it is to sign players. We have targets we need to tie up now. If we don't, they are likely to cost us more later.

'I have been told to concentrate on training the players, and that chief executive Rick Parry will be in charge of signing people. I have three targets for January, so we shall see.'

The tabloid reported that it is now a matter of when, not if, the Spanish boss leaves Anfield and that is expected to be sooner rather than later.

While Mourinho may have his enemies at Anfield after his many outbursts against the Reds, he tops a wanted list already being assembled by the owners.

An approach will be made once Benitez's departure is confirmed.

Two other high-profile coaches could also be looking for new jobs.

According to the Guardian, Frank Rijkaard is on his way out of Barcelona, while Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster's tenure is not secure as he has upset members of the club's hierarchy.