Mourinho confirms he rejected 2013 Manchester United manager role
Developed over time first seen 2 months ago
José Mourinho has confirmed in a new Netflix documentary that he agreed in 2013 to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager, only to change his mind at the last minute and return to Chelsea instead. Ferguson corroborated the account, revealing that Mourinho phoned him in tears to explain he could not break his word to Chelsea, finally settling years of speculation about one of English football's most significant managerial near-misses. United instead appointed David Moyes, dubbed "The Chosen One", who lasted just ten months in the role.
Ferguson said he believed the deal was agreed before it unravelled "within hours", while Mourinho explained he needed to feel "loved" after a difficult spell at Real Madrid and could not turn down Chelsea, where he had already won two Premier League titles. He returned to Stamford Bridge in 2013 and won another league title, before eventually managing United from 2016 to 2018, where he won the League Cup and Europa League. The documentary also covers his rocky third season at Real Madrid, his fallout with goalkeeper Iker Casillas, and his strained relationship with former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, ahead of Mourinho's return to Real Madrid this June.
- Mourinho reveals he agreed to succeed Ferguson at Man Utd in 2013
- He backed out at the last minute to rejoin Chelsea instead
- United appointed David Moyes, who was sacked within 10 months
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José Mourinho is one of football's best-known managers, having won league titles across several countries, including two Premier League titles with Chelsea before he first left the club in 2007. Sir Alex Ferguson was Manchester United's long-serving manager, stepping down in 2013 after nearly 27 years in charge, which meant the club needed to find a successor to fill one of the most prestigious jobs in the sport.
For years there had been rumours that Mourinho was lined up to take over at United in 2013, but the job instead went to David Moyes, while Mourinho returned to Chelsea for a second spell. Exactly what happened behind the scenes had never been confirmed by those involved, leaving it as one of the enduring mysteries of that period in English football.
Mourinho did eventually manage Manchester United, but not until 2016, three years after Ferguson's retirement and following two managers after Moyes. The story matters because it fills in a well-known gap in football history, showing how a change of heart altered the course of two major clubs and one of the sport's most prominent managerial careers.
Coverage
- The Guardian — José Mourinho reveals he signed contract to succeed Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2013
- BBC Sport — Mourinho says he agreed to replace Ferguson at Man Utd