Koeman reportedly rejects offer from Mexico

Voetbal International reported Tuesday that unemployed Ronald Koeman turned down the opportunity to become Mexico's boss last week, but could be tempted by a return to Portugal.

It was just four days ago when his agent, Ger Lagendijk, told the magazine that Koeman had received five club offers and one more from a national association within days of his dismissal by Valencia, on April 21.

On Tuesday, VI revealed it was the Mexican Federation that made contact with the 45-year-old coach's agent last week, as its president Justino Compeán saw in Koeman the ideal replacement of Hugo Sánchez, who was sacked on March 31.

However, shortly after they had placed their offer, the Mexicans announced that caretaker coach Jesús Ramírez would provisionally stay on. El Tri is set to play two friendly games against Argentina and Peru in early June, before kicking off its World Cup campaign against Belize on June 15 in Houston.

Lagendijk has also suggested that Koeman plans to rest for three or four months, but that doesn't exclude the possibility of him taking up duties as a head coach of either Portugal or Morocco, who have reportedly also added Koeman's name to their lists.

The former Vitesse, Ajax and PSV Eindhoven boss had a short spell in Portugal with Benfica, whom he guided to the 2005-06 SuperTaça Cândido de Oliveira, its last trophy to date. And the country's federation is still not certain whether Brazilian tactician Luiz Felipe Scolari, who also turned down the Mexico job a few days ago, will renew his contract at the end of the European Championship.

As for Morocco, the FRMF has announced that the new national side coach will be unveiled on Thursday. Fathi Jamal took over on an interim basis after Frenchman Henri Michel was sacked on Feb. 7.

Les Lions de l' Atlas will host Ethiopia in Casablanca in their first World Cup qualifier on May 31.