LONDON • Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has not signed a contract with anybody but reiterated his desire to be back in football in time for the start of next season, with a preference to work in England again.

"At this moment I can promise you that I don't have a contract with anybody," he said at the sidelines of Saturday's International Boxing Federation world heavyweight title clash at 02 Arena.

"I'm in a position to be open to any club, to any national team, but to be honest if possible I'd like a club, and analyse and think what's best for my career and to be back with everything I have."

Mourinho, one of the world's most successful coaches, was sacked by Chelsea in December after the Premier League champions started the season with nine defeats in their first 16 matches.

The 53-year-old, who has also coached Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Porto, has been strongly tipped in media reports to take over from Louis van Gaal at Manchester United next season.

"Reports are reports and I made a decision in the beginning... not to feed them, not to confirm, not to deny," he told Sky Sports television.

"If anybody has respect for Mr van Gaal I'm probably one of the first ones because he's my friend and I worked with him a few years (as an assistant coach at Barcelona).

"I'm linked with many jobs... in the summer I will have a job. This is April, everything starts in July. Every decision normally is made between the end of May and the start of June."

The Portuguese made it clear he would prefer another club in England where his family is settled.

"I love the country, I love the football here. My family is very stable and happy. If possible, yes, it (England) would be my first choice," he said.

He also confirmed he had rejected an offer from the Syrian FA to coach their national team.

"The Syrian one is true because they published the letter that they sent to my agent (Jorge Mendes)... but in a very respectful way we told them we were not interested in that job," he said.

Mourinho, who has made plenty of football history, witnessed some boxing history on Saturday.

Britain's Anthony Joshua became the first boxer to hold the Olympic super-heavyweight crown and a version of the world heavyweight title simultaneously after Charles Martin in the second round.

Joshua gave a demonstration of brutal power to claim the American's world title and live up to his billing as the new superstar of heavyweight boxing.

REUTERS