Mourinho Admits Agreement to Succeed Ferguson at Man Utd, Later Opted for Chelsea

Jose Mourinho has confirmed that he had reached an agreement to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson as the manager of Manchester United in 2013. However, he later changed his mind and decided to rejoin Chelsea.

The Portuguese coach, currently in his second stint at Real Madrid, stated in a new Netflix documentary series about his career that he had signed on to move to Manchester United after leaving Real Madrid.

Sir Alex Ferguson, who retired in 2013 after a remarkable 26-year tenure at Old Trafford where he secured 13 Premier League titles, confirmed that Mourinho was indeed offered the job.

Ferguson recalled a conversation where he explained the situation to Mourinho, believing he had accepted the offer. However, the decision was reversed within hours.

The change in plans was due to Mourinho's inability to decline an offer to return to Chelsea, a club where he had previously won consecutive Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006.

The former United manager recounted that Mourinho called him one night, in tears, stating he could not break his word to Chelsea.

Ferguson expressed understanding for Mourinho's reasoning but admitted to feeling disappointed by the turn of events.

Mourinho described being "very flattered" by the offer to succeed Ferguson, acknowledging Manchester United's significant appeal.

He differentiated between a passion for football and a strong attachment to a specific club, suggesting his emotional connection to Chelsea was the deciding factor.

Mourinho explained that after his time at Real Madrid, he needed to feel "loved," and this feeling was paramount in his decision-making.

While acknowledging the significance of missing the chance to become Sir Alex Ferguson's successor, Mourinho stated he does not regret his choice, calling it a decision made "with my heart."

Following his return to Stamford Bridge in 2013, Mourinho secured his third Premier League title along with a League Cup.

In May 2016, he was presented with another opportunity to manage Manchester United, taking over from Louis van Gaal.

During his two-and-a-half-year spell at Old Trafford, Mourinho won the League Cup and the Europa League before his dismissal in December 2018, attributed to a downturn in results.

He subsequently returned to Real Madrid in May of this year, a club where his previous tenure ended acrimoniously due to a fallout with club captain Iker Casillas and other players.

Leading up to his reunion with Real Madrid, the outspoken manager and former Spain goalkeeper candidly discussed the reasons behind their past disagreements.

Mourinho also touched upon the challenges he faced with former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who appointed him twice, only to dismiss him on both occasions.