Mourinho Reveals He Agreed to Replace Ferguson at United in 2013

Jose Mourinho admits he reneged on deal to return to Chelsea after brief stint as Real Madrid coach

KSports

August 11, 2026 at 03:02 AM

Photo: The Guardian - Sport

Mourinho Reveals He Agreed to Replace Ferguson at United in 2013

Jose Mourinho, the former Manchester United manager, has revealed that he signed a contract to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson as United's head coach in 2013 only to tearfully renege on the deal and return to Chelsea. This revelation comes from a new Netflix documentary about Mourinho’s life.

Mourinho had previously led Real Madrid to success, but his strong bond with Chelsea after winning titles there pushed him to go back there despite United's allure.

In an interview for the documentary, Ferguson recalls receiving a phone call in the evening where Mourinho tearfully said he had given his word to Chelsea and could not break it. Mourinho reveals this decision came from the heart, driven by the desire to be loved by a club more than the love of football itself.

Mourinho:

#FOOTBALL