Jose Mourinho has revealed that he agreed to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson as manager of Manchester United in 2013, but ultimately withdrew his acceptance to rejoin Chelsea.
Mourinho, now in his second spell at Real Madrid, detailed the events in a new documentary series about his career. He stated that after leaving Real Madrid, he had a deal in place to take over at Old Trafford. Ferguson, who retired in 2013 after a 26-year tenure that yielded 13 Premier League titles, confirmed that Mourinho had been offered the job.
"I sat him down and explained the situation," Ferguson was quoted as saying. "As far as I was concerned, he was accepting. And then, within hours, it changed."
Mourinho explained that the change of heart came because he felt unable to refuse a return to Chelsea, where he had previously won consecutive league titles in 2005 and 2006. "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 recounted. While Ferguson understood Mourinho's reasoning, he admitted to being disappointed.
Mourinho expressed that he was "very flattered" by the offer to replace Ferguson, acknowledging Manchester United's significant appeal. However, he emphasized that personal emotional connections could outweigh professional ambition. "I think this is more powerful than love for football and fundamentally, after Real Madrid, I needed to feel that I'm loved," he stated. He described the missed opportunity as "dramatic" but has no regrets, calling it a decision made "with my heart."
Following his return to Stamford Bridge in 2013, Mourinho secured a third Premier League title and a League Cup. He later took charge of Manchester United in May 2016, succeeding Louis van Gaal. His tenure at Old Trafford lasted two and a half years, during which he won the League Cup and the Europa League before his dismissal in December 2018 amid a decline in results. He subsequently returned to Real Madrid in May of the current year. The documentary also touches upon his previous departure from Real Madrid and his experiences with former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.