Renowned football manager José Mourinho has revealed a long-kept secret: in 2013, he signed a contract to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, only to tearfully back out of the deal so he could return to Chelsea instead.
The dramatic revelation was made in a new Netflix documentary about his career, titled Mourinho. In May 2013, the football world was shaken when Ferguson announced his retirement after winning his 13th Premier League title with Manchester United. As Ferguson prepared to step down, Mourinho was leaving Real Madrid and formally agreed to take over at Old Trafford.
However, Mourinho experienced a change of heart. Despite being flattered by United's interest, he felt a much stronger emotional pull toward Chelsea, where he had previously won two Premier League titles. "One thing is love for football, and another thing is love for a certain club," Mourinho explained in the documentary, adding that after his demanding spell in Spain, he needed to return somewhere he felt genuinely loved.
Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed the story in an interview for the documentary, recalling the exact moment the arrangement fell apart. Ferguson said Mourinho called him early in the evening in tears, explaining that he had already given his word to Chelsea and could not break it. Although disappointed, the legendary Scottish manager acknowledged that he understood Mourinho's reasoning.
Instead of moving to Manchester in 2013, Mourinho returned to Stamford Bridge and led Chelsea to another Premier League title. David Moyes was appointed to succeed Ferguson at United, though he was dismissed after just 10 months. Mourinho would eventually manage Manchester United three years later, taking charge in 2016 for a two-and-a-half-year spell. Reflecting on his decision in 2013, Mourinho stated he had no regrets because he had followed his heart.