By Nicholas Veevers

Jose Mourinho says he’ll be back to manage in England, after expressing his love for the game in this country ahead of The FA’s 150th anniversary celebrations.

The Real Madrid boss enjoyed a hugely successful spell in charge of Chelsea after joining in 2004, before shocking the football world by suddenly leaving the club in September 2007.

His trophy haul of two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and two League Cup medals in just over three years at Stamford Bridge made him the most successful manager in the club’s history.

And speaking ahead of the FA150 launch on Wednesday, Mourinho has revealed that he expects to appear in the Premier League again.

He said: “My memories from English football could not be better.

“In England you feel the real passion for the game. It’s not just about passion for clubs, it’s mainly about passion for football – and you feel it. I loved it from the first to the last day.

"But I know that one day I will come back because English football means a lot to myself.”

The Portuguese can’t attend the launch event at London’s Grand Connaught Rooms, but was keen to send his own message to The FA from his base in Madrid.

And the former FC Porto and Inter Milan chief was typically forthcoming in his thoughts on the game and its founding fathers.  

“To say congratulations to the English FA is to say congratulations to football,” he added.

“It’s to say congratulations to everybody that loves football around the world.

“For me, The FA means not just the passion of football in England, but also the passion of football around the world.

“So I feel that I should congratulate myself about your 150 years, because as everybody knows, I am completely in love with the game and a person in love with the game must be in love with the English FA.”

Watch the full video message from Mourinho in the Media Gallery above.

Follow TheFA.com on Wednesday for all of the news from the FA150 launch event.