Jose Mourinho has revealed that he agreed to become Manchester United manager after Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, but ultimately chose to return to Chelsea.
The revelation comes in Mourinho’s new Netflix documentary, in which the Portuguese coach explains why he turned down the opportunity to succeed one of the most successful managers in English football.
Ferguson retired in 2013 after winning his 13th Premier League title with Manchester United, ending a 26-year reign at Old Trafford.
Mourinho, who had just left Real Madrid, said he had reached an agreement to take over at United.
“When I left Real Madrid, I signed with Manchester United to go to Manchester United after Sir Alex,” Mourinho said.
He described United as a club with an exceptional global reputation but said his decision was ultimately influenced by his relationship with Chelsea, where he had already established a strong bond with supporters and the club.
“I needed to feel that I’m loved,” Mourinho said.
Ferguson, who also features in the documentary, recalled receiving a phone call from Mourinho after believing the Portuguese manager was set to take the United job.
“Early evening he phoned me and he was crying,” Ferguson said. “He says, ‘Alex, I can’t take it – I’ve given my word to Chelsea, and I’m not going to break my word.’”
Ferguson said he understood Mourinho’s reasoning but was disappointed by the decision.
Mourinho returned to Chelsea in 2013 and went on to win another Premier League title and the League Cup before being dismissed in December 2015.
Manchester United instead appointed David Moyes as Ferguson’s successor. Moyes lasted less than a year before being sacked, beginning a period of managerial changes at Old Trafford.
Mourinho eventually took charge of United in 2016, three years after Ferguson’s retirement. He won the Europa League, League Cup and Community Shield during his two-and-a-half-year spell before leaving the club in December 2018.
Looking back, Mourinho said missing the chance to succeed Ferguson immediately was a significant moment in his career, but he does not regret choosing Chelsea.
“For me to lose the chance to be the coach to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson was dramatic, but I don’t regret it because it was a decision that I made with my heart,” Mourinho said.
The decision remains one of the notable turning points in Manchester United’s post-Ferguson history, with the club failing to reproduce the sustained success it enjoyed under the Scottish manager.
