Portugal eye short-term Mourinho deal

Mourinho has said that one day he will take charge of the national team (GETTY IMAGES)

The Portuguese Football Federation want Jose Mourinho to take charge of the national team for their next two Euro 2012 qualifiers in October, according to a report.

Record claims that FPF president Gilberto Madail has travelled to Madrid to meet with Mourinho's agent Jorge Mendes in an attempt to persuade the Real boss to oversee Portugal's games against Denmark on October 8 and Iceland four days later.

Portugal are without a coach following the sacking of Carlos Queiroz last week after he had been handed a six-month suspension for insulting anti-doping agents prior to the World Cup.

Former FPF president Joao Rodrigues has accompanied Madail on the trip, the Record reports, as he has good connections in Spain that could help secure Mourinho's short-term release from Real Madrid in order to take charge of the games.

Portugal are desperate to salvage their qualification campaign - having collected only one point from their opening two matches - as a failure to qualify would be seen as a huge blow to their bid to host the 2018 World Cup.

Reports had suggested Sporting Lisbon boss Paulo Bento was to take the job, but he denied that yesterday.

"I want to make clear that I did not sign any contract nor have I been contacted by someone from the federation," he said on TVI 24.

"I spent the day at home and have not signed anything."