José Mourinho turned down chance to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United

Jose Mourinho was set to replace Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United boss in 2013 before changing his mind and rejoining Chelsea, a new Netflix documentary on the Portuguese manager has revealed.Jose Mourinho reveals why he rejected the chance to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2013 (Reuters File Photo)Jose Mourinho has revealed that he had agreed to replace Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager in 2013 before changing his mind and returning to Chelsea.Mourinho made the revelation in a new three-part Netflix documentary about his career. The series, titled Mourinho, explores the Portuguese manager's career, including his successful and controversial spells at clubs such as Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Manchester United.Mourinho left Real Madrid at the end of the 2012-13 season after three years in charge. While he was expected to return to Chelsea, where he had previously won two Premier League titles, he revealed that he had initially agreed to succeed Ferguson at Manchester United.It could have all been so different. Jos Mourinho says he agreed to replace Sir Alex Ferguson when he left Manchester United in 2013.Watch all three episodes of MOURINHO on Netflix from tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/gLtnLT0GoL— Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) August 10, 2026"When I left Real Madrid, I signed with Manchester United to go to Manchester United after Sir Alex," Mourinho said in the documentary. Ferguson announced his retirement at the end of the 2012-13 season after 26 years at Old Trafford. The Scot had won 13 Premier League titles and left United as the most successful manager in the club's history.According to Ferguson, Mourinho was offered the job and appeared ready to accept it. "I sat him down and explained the situation. And as far as I was concerned, he was accepting. And then within hours, it changed," Ferguson said.Mourinho eventually decided against taking the United job and opted to return to Chelsea. Ferguson revealed that Mourinho personally called him to explain his decision."One night, he phoned me and he was crying and 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."The reason he gave to me, I could understand. But I was disappointed."Mourinho said the opportunity to succeed Ferguson was hugely appealing, but his emotional attachment to Chelsea ultimately proved decisive."I was very flattered to be offered the job because Manchester United has an incredible appeal," he said."But one thing is love for football, another thing is love for a certain club. I think this is more powerful than love for football and fundamentally, after Real Madrid, I needed to feel that I'm loved."Mourinho had endured a difficult final season at Real Madrid. His relationship with several players had deteriorated, while his feud with club captain Iker Casillas became one of the defining controversies of his time at the Spanish club.Real Madrid finished the 2012-13 season without a major trophy, and Mourinho left the club in the summer of 2013.Reflecting on his decision to turn down United, Mourinho admitted that missing out on the chance to succeed Ferguson was difficult but insisted that he did not regret his choice."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."I went back with the feeling of yes, I go home, but with a big responsibility because what I did before is history, and you don't want to destroy your legacy."Mourinho returned to Chelsea in June 2013 and enjoyed another successful spell at Stamford Bridge. He guided the club to the Premier League title and League Cup in the 2014-15 season.Manchester United, meanwhile, appointed then-Everton manager David Moyes as Ferguson's successor. Moyes was famously labeled "The Chosen One", with a banner carrying the phrase displayed at Old Trafford.His tenure, however, lasted only 10 months. Moyes was sacked in April 2014 after United failed to qualify for the Champions League.Mourinho eventually got his opportunity to manage Manchester United three years later. He was appointed in 2016 after Louis van Gaal's departure.The Portuguese manager won the League Cup and Europa League in his first season and guided United to second place in the Premier League in 2017-18, their highest finish since Ferguson's retirement.However, his relationship with the club deteriorated during his third season. United struggled for results and Mourinho was dismissed in December 2018.The revelation about Mourinho's 2013 decision offers a fresh perspective on one of the biggest managerial what-ifs in Manchester United's recent history. Had he kept his original commitment, the club's post-Ferguson era could have taken a very different direction.The new Netflix documentary also looks at Mourinho's relationship with former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who hired and dismissed him during both of his spells at Stamford Bridge.- EndsPublished By: Saurabh KumarPublished On: Aug 10, 2026 20:26 IST