Jose Mourinho has told English football fans that he will be back - but not immediately.

Mourinho says he will return to the Premier League one day, but only after taking on another challenge in a different country.

He said: "I don't want it in my next step. I don't want to leave Chelsea's and go immediately to another door. I think my next step must be another country, must be another experience, another football.

''But I am 44, I hope I have many years in front of me. I love English football and I don't change a single word I've said before.''

Mourinho also had kind words for the referees, journalists and rival managers with whom he so often clashed.

''One or another frustration with referees doesn't stop me saying (England has) very good referees, honest people. Some of them were calling today,'' he added. ''The English press, if you understand their philosophy, it was very funny to play their game. Salt and pepper every day.

''Other managers, great people, top people. Very supportive and very nice to me.

''In football terms, a fantastic period of my career.''

Mourinho also ruled himself out of the running for the Portuguese national job, and any other job in his homeland. But he insisted his parting was the right move for both parties, and that each had agreed on the step.

''It is right that we are both happy,'' he added. ''Roman (Abramovich), Peter (Kenyon), the top people at the club are happy, and I'm happy too.

''I was not sacked and I didn't close the door. If I wanted to close the door I would do it before - at the end of season. I gave my word to the supporters I would not go for another club.

''If Chelsea wanted to sack me they would do it at the end of the season and not at this moment.

''So mutual agreement I think is the correct English for what happened. I'm not saying I'm happy. I'm happy I stopped my work at Chelsea.''

Mourinho agreed with the club's previous statement that swift action was needed to prevent a fractious situation stagnating further.

''When people don't want to sack and the manager doesn't want to close the door you could go on and on and on,'' he said.

''No problem with that, but I think it was the best situation.''

The former boss admitted he shed tears over his departure.

''I was crying. Everything I do is with a lot of passion and emotion,'' he said. I create everything around the group ethic. You have a family at home and another one on the training ground.''

But Mourinho insisted he would no longer be following the club's fortunes.

He added: ''I am not interested in Chelsea football matches - I don't care at all.

''For me Chelsea has finished, I keep the good things in my heart and nothing else. Now it is up to them. But my next step, I don't compete against them.''