“So I just wanted to say that it’s wonderful to have been asked. Really, a very great honour – especially since I’m not Israeli. But after careful consideration I’ve had to decide that managing the national team is not for me. I’m 71. I really don’t think I’m up for all those away trips to Lithuania or wherever. But thank you. Oh, I hope you won’t be offended if I offer a word of advice, but if you’re thinking of offering other English guys the job I perhaps wouldn’t use that line about becoming Israel’s answer to Sven-Goran Eriksson.”
