Former Manchester United manager José Mourinho has revealed that he had originally agreed to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford in 2013 before making a dramatic U turn and returning to Chelsea.
The Portuguese coach made the revelation in a new Netflix documentary examining his career, providing a fresh insight into one of the biggest managerial decisions in Manchester United’s modern history.
Mourinho said he had agreed to take over from Ferguson after leaving Real Madrid, where he had spent three seasons in charge. At the time, Ferguson was preparing to retire from management after an extraordinary 26 year spell at Manchester United.
According to Mourinho, the opportunity to succeed one of football’s greatest managers was extremely attractive, and he was initially prepared to take the job.
However, his plans changed when he decided that returning to Chelsea was more important to him emotionally.
Ferguson also recalled the events surrounding Mourinho’s decision, explaining that he believed the Portuguese manager had accepted the opportunity when they discussed the succession plan.
The former United boss said Mourinho appeared ready to take charge before changing his mind only hours later.
The decision reportedly left Ferguson disappointed, particularly because he had expected Mourinho to follow him into the Old Trafford hot seat. However, Ferguson said he understood the reasons behind Mourinho’s change of heart.
Mourinho’s explanation centred largely on his relationship with Chelsea.
The Portuguese had already established a strong connection with the London club during his first spell between 2004 and 2007. He led Chelsea to consecutive Premier League titles in 2004/05 and 2005/06, while also winning the League Cup and other domestic honours.
After leaving Real Madrid in 2013, Mourinho felt that returning to Chelsea was the right decision for him.
His comments suggest that the decision was not simply about choosing between two elite clubs. Instead, it was about where he felt most appreciated and emotionally connected following a difficult period in Spain.
Mourinho said that after his experience at Real Madrid, he needed to feel loved, making his relationship with Chelsea an important factor in his decision.
Ferguson recalled receiving an emotional telephone call from Mourinho in which the Portuguese coach explained that he could not go ahead with the Manchester United move because he had given his word to Chelsea.
Although disappointed, Ferguson said he could understand Mourinho’s reasoning.
The decision changed the course of Manchester United’s history.
Instead of appointing Mourinho, the club eventually chose David Moyes as Ferguson’s successor. Moyes struggled during his only season at Old Trafford and was dismissed in April 2014 after United failed to qualify for the following season’s Champions League.
Mourinho, meanwhile, returned to Chelsea and enjoyed another successful spell.
He guided the club to the Premier League title during the 2014/15 season, finishing the campaign with an impressive domestic double after Chelsea also won the League Cup.
However, Mourinho’s second spell at Stamford Bridge eventually ended in December 2015 following a difficult run of results.
The Manchester United opportunity would eventually return to him.
In 2016, Mourinho finally became United manager after the club dismissed Louis van Gaal. His arrival generated enormous excitement among supporters who had long wondered what might have happened if he had succeeded Ferguson three years earlier.
Mourinho won three trophies during his first season, including the League Cup and UEFA Europa League, while also guiding United to victory in the Community Shield.
His second season produced a second place Premier League finish, United’s highest position since Ferguson’s retirement.
Despite those achievements, Mourinho’s tenure eventually deteriorated. He was dismissed in December 2018 following a poor run of results and increasing tension surrounding the team.
The revelation about his 2013 decision has therefore reopened an intriguing question about Manchester United’s post Ferguson era.
Had Mourinho accepted the position, the club’s history could have developed very differently. His experience, personality and record at Chelsea and Real Madrid could have provided United with a manager capable of handling the enormous pressure that followed Ferguson’s retirement.
Instead, Mourinho followed his emotional connection to Chelsea and waited another three years before eventually arriving at Old Trafford.
Looking back, the Portuguese coach does not appear to regret his decision.
For Mourinho, the chance to succeed Ferguson was undoubtedly a major honour, but he believed that his decision to return to Chelsea was guided by something more personal.
The story provides another fascinating glimpse into the circumstances surrounding one of football’s most important managerial transitions and shows how a single decision can alter the direction of a major club.
More than a decade later, Mourinho’s revelation has once again raised the question of what might have happened if he had walked through the doors of Old Trafford in 2013 instead of Stamford Bridge.
