Jose Mourinho reveals he signed deal to replace Alex Ferguson at Man Utd before Chelsea U-turn
Context:
Mourinho reveals in his Netflix documentary that he agreed to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2013 after leaving Real Madrid, but withdrew to return to Chelsea following a heart‑to‑heart with Ferguson. The decision was driven by emotional ties and a strong bond with Chelsea, despite United’s allure and a belief that he could succeed Ferguson. The turn‑around led to David Moyes taking over United, and Mourinho later delivered a Premier League title with Chelsea in 2014-15. The disclosure illuminates the turbulent post-Ferguson era at United and Mourinho’s personal calculus between love for a club and professional ambition. It also underscores how personal relationships and emotional factors can shape career trajectories in football.
Dive Deeper:
Mourinho states in the Netflix documentary 'Mourinho' that after leaving Real Madrid he signed to move to Manchester United, only to decide against it in favor of returning to Chelsea, highlighting a period where loyalties and emotional considerations influenced career choices.
Ferguson confirms the sequence, recounting a late-evening phone call in which Mourinho cried and said he had given his word to Chelsea and could not break it, a moment that left Ferguson disappointed.
As a consequence of Mourinho’s withdrawal, United appointed David Moyes as Ferguson’s successor, shaping the club’s immediate transition period away from Mourinho’s initial United involvement.
Mourinho emphasizes that his decision was driven by love for a club and an emotional need to feel loved, even as he acknowledged the prestige of Manchester United among the world’s top clubs.
The path that followed included Mourinho’s Chelsea redeveloping strength, culminating in a third Premier League title in 2014-15 before he later rejoined United in 2016, framing the move as a heart‑led career arc.
The revelation adds context to United’s post-Ferguson era, a stretch during which the club failed to clinch a Premier League title, and reinforces Mourinho’s reputation as a decisive, emotionally driven figure in modern football.