José Mourinho Reveals He Signed to Replace Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2013

José Mourinho has revealed that he signed an agreement to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager in 2013, only to change his mind and return to Chelsea instead. The revelation appears in a new Netflix documentary about the Portuguese manager and offers fresh details about one of the most significant managerial decisions in modern Premier League history.

Mourinho said that after leaving Real Madrid, he had agreed to take over at Manchester United following Ferguson's retirement. Ferguson, who had just guided United to a 13th Premier League title, was apparently expecting Mourinho to take the position. However, Mourinho ultimately decided that his connection with Chelsea was stronger and chose to return to Stamford Bridge.

Ferguson also discusses the episode in the documentary, confirming Mourinho's account and recalling the emotional phone call in which the Portuguese manager told him he would not be taking the United job. The decision meant United appointed David Moyes instead, while Mourinho returned to Chelsea for a second spell.

Mourinho Had Already Agreed to Follow Ferguson at Manchester United

Mourinho's account reveals that the possibility of him succeeding Ferguson at Manchester United went significantly further than the speculation surrounding the managerial vacancy suggested at the time. According to the documentary, Mourinho said he had actually signed an agreement with United after leaving Real Madrid, with the intention of taking charge once Ferguson stepped down.

The timing was crucial. Ferguson announced his retirement in May 2013 after leading United to another Premier League title, ending a 26-year managerial reign at Old Trafford. Mourinho had recently departed Real Madrid and was widely regarded as one of the leading candidates to replace the Scot. United ultimately appointed David Moyes, who had been managing Everton.

Mourinho said the opportunity to manage Manchester United was deeply flattering because of the club's global stature. However, he explained that his decision was influenced by his emotional relationship with Chelsea, where he had already built a significant legacy.

The revelation provides a new explanation for why Mourinho did not take the United position in 2013. Rather than simply losing out during the selection process, he says he had committed to the club before reversing his decision. The BBC similarly reports that Mourinho has now confirmed he agreed to replace Ferguson before changing his mind and returning to Chelsea.

Ferguson Recalls Emotional Phone Call From Mourinho

Ferguson's version of events adds another dimension to Mourinho's revelation. In the Netflix documentary, the former United manager recalls receiving a phone call from Mourinho after he had apparently agreed to become Ferguson's successor. Mourinho told him that he had decided not to take the position because he had given his word to Chelsea.

Ferguson said he had initially believed Mourinho was accepting the opportunity to take over at Old Trafford. The change of heart came within hours, leaving Ferguson disappointed but also able to understand Mourinho's reasoning.

The decision was particularly significant because Ferguson had just ended one of the most successful managerial careers in football history. His final season produced another Premier League championship, and United were preparing for the difficult task of replacing a manager who had transformed the club over more than two decades.

Mourinho's choice changed the course of two major clubs. Chelsea welcomed him back for a second spell, while United moved forward with Moyes. Mourinho later returned to Old Trafford in 2016, eventually spending two and a half years as United manager.

The episode is therefore more than an old transfer-style story involving a manager. It represents a pivotal moment in United's post-Ferguson history and helps explain how one of football's biggest managerial appointments came close to happening three years earlier than it ultimately did.

Mourinho Chose Chelsea Despite Manchester United Opportunity

Mourinho's decision was closely connected to his relationship with Chelsea and owner Roman Abramovich. The Portuguese manager had already established a strong bond with the London club during his first spell, winning two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and two League Cups.

After leaving Real Madrid, Mourinho decided to repair his relationship with Abramovich and return to Stamford Bridge. He has now described that decision as one driven by emotion rather than purely by career considerations. He said the opportunity to manage United was enormous, but his attachment to Chelsea ultimately carried greater weight.

His second Chelsea spell produced another Premier League title and a League Cup before he was dismissed in December 2015. Mourinho then finally moved to Manchester United in 2016, taking over after Louis van Gaal and beginning the chapter of his career that might have started three years earlier.

Mourinho has acknowledged that losing the chance to immediately replace Ferguson was a dramatic moment in his career. Nevertheless, he said he did not regret the decision because he made it based on his feelings for Chelsea.

The story also illustrates the unusual circumstances surrounding elite football management, where personal relationships and loyalty can influence decisions as much as sporting ambition. Mourinho's choice preserved his Chelsea connection but also left Manchester United to begin the post-Ferguson era under a different manager.

Revelation Offers New Perspective on Manchester United's Post-Ferguson Era

Mourinho's revelation has revived discussion about what Manchester United's history might have looked like had he taken the job in 2013. Instead of Mourinho, the club appointed Moyes as Ferguson's successor. Moyes lasted only 10 months before being dismissed, beginning a turbulent period of managerial changes at Old Trafford.

Mourinho eventually arrived at United in 2016 and won the Community Shield, League Cup and Europa League during his first season. His second campaign produced a second-place Premier League finish, but he was dismissed in December 2018.

The newly revealed agreement therefore adds an intriguing alternative-history element to United's post-Ferguson story. Had Mourinho honored the original agreement, he would have taken charge immediately after Ferguson rather than returning to Chelsea and arriving at Old Trafford three years later.

For Ferguson, the episode remains a memorable moment from the transition away from his long reign. For Mourinho, it is a decision he now frames as one made out of loyalty and affection for Chelsea rather than regret over missing the United opportunity.

The revelation is featured in the new Netflix documentary Mourinho, which gives the manager an opportunity to revisit key moments from his career. The documentary's account, supported by Ferguson's own recollection, provides a rare look behind the scenes of the 2013 succession process.

More than a decade later, Mourinho's disclosure gives football fans a new perspective on one of the sport's biggest managerial "what ifs" — the possibility that he could have become Ferguson's immediate successor at Manchester United.