Archive · 10 Aug 2026
Mourinho nearly replaced Sir Alex Ferguson but chose Chelsea instead
Jose Mourinho is a very famous football coach who almost got one of the biggest jobs in soccer.
In 2013, Sir Alex Ferguson was retiring from Manchester United after coaching the team for about 27 years.
Mourinho said he signed an agreement to become the next Manchester United coach.
But then he changed his mind and went back to Chelsea, a club he had coached before.
He said he needed to feel loved after his time at Real Madrid.
Sir Alex Ferguson was disappointed when Mourinho changed his mind.
Mourinho says he does not regret his choice because he made it with his heart.
He told this story in a Netflix documentary.
A few years later, in 2016, he became Manchester United's coach and won two trophies.
Jose Mourinho revealed he signed to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2013 before changing his mind and returning to Chelsea.
Ferguson confirmed Mourinho initially accepted the offer, but the decision changed within hours, with a tearful phone call that Ferguson understood yet was disappointed by.
Mourinho said he returned to Chelsea because he 'needed to feel loved' after his Real Madrid stint and does not regret the decision he made 'with my heart.'
Ferguson, who led United for 26 years (one article says 27), was succeeded by David Moyes, who was sacked 10 months into the job.
Mourinho made the revelation in the Netflix documentary 'Mourinho,' and he later managed United from 2016, winning the UEFA Europa League and League Cup.
- Who
- Jose Mourinho (with confirmations from Sir Alex Ferguson)
- What
- Mourinho signed to succeed Ferguson as Manchester United manager in 2013 but chose to return to Chelsea instead
- When
- 2013; revealed ahead of the Netflix documentary 'Mourinho' releasing on August 11
- Where
- England, between Manchester United and Chelsea (Stamford Bridge)
- Why
- Mourinho said he needed to 'feel loved' after his Real Madrid stint and made the choice with his heart, not wanting to break his word to Chelsea
- Sport
- Football (soccer)
- Event
- 2013 Manchester United managerial succession
- Ferguson's tenure at Manchester United
- 26 years (one article cites 27)
- Ferguson's Premier League titles
- 13
- Mourinho's Real Madrid stint
- 2010-13; won La Liga and Copa del Rey
- Mourinho's Chelsea stints
- 2004-07 and 2013-15
- Mourinho's Manchester United stint
- 2016, lasting 2.5 years; won UEFA Europa League and League Cup
- Source
- 'Mourinho' Netflix documentary, releasing August 11
