Philippe Troussier said today he has been approached by the FAI to succeed Mick McCarthy as Republic of Ireland manager.
But the Frenchman - who led Japan at the World Cup finals this summer - insisted he will not rush into making a decision.
"I have been approached by five or six national teams and Ireland is one of them," Troussier told the BBC."
Troussier recently had surgery for a knee problem and is currently receiving physiotherapy in Biarritz, France.
"Right now, I want to focus on my rehabilitation and forget about football for now," Troussier said.
"After Japan, I think I should be careful about selecting the next team that I manage.
"When I finish my treatment in France, I will go back to my house in Morocco and should come to a decision in January."
Troussier began his international managerial career in Africa.
He managed the Ivory Coast, Nigeria - who he guided to World Cup qualification in 1994 - and Burkina Faso.
Troussier led South Africa at the 1998 World Cup finals in France.
PA