José Mourinho has revealed he signed a contract to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager in 2013, only to go back on the deal within hours and return to Chelsea instead. The disclosure came in a new Netflix documentary about the Portuguese's life and career, titled Mourinho.
"When I left Real Madrid, I signed with Manchester United to go to Manchester United after Sir Alex," Mourinho said in the documentary. "I was, of course, very flattered, because Manchester United has an incredible appeal. When I say Real Madrid is the biggest club in the world, I have to say that Manchester United is very, very close."
Ferguson, interviewed for the same documentary, said he believed Mourinho had accepted the job before the situation changed within hours. "Early evening he phoned me and he was crying," Ferguson said. "And he says, 'Alex, I can't take it -- I've given my word to Chelsea, and I'm not going to break my word.' The reason he gave to me I could understand, but I was disappointed."
Ferguson's retirement followed a 13th Premier League title, at the end of a spell of unrivalled dominance at Old Trafford. United turned first to David Moyes, sacked after only 10 months in charge, and did not get Mourinho into the job until 2016, when he spent two and a half years in charge. The club has continued to search for stability in the post-Ferguson era; Michael Carrick, who took interim charge in January 2026 before being confirmed as permanent manager in May, is United's latest appointment.