Jose Mourinho Discloses He Declined Manchester United's Offer to Succeed Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013

Jose Mourinho, the renowned football manager currently leading Real Madrid, disclosed in a recent documentary that he was poised to take over from the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2013. However, he ultimately opted to return to Chelsea, a club he had previously managed from 2004 to 2007. This revelation came during a three-part series titled 'Mourinho', which chronicles the illustrious career of the manager, who has achieved numerous accolades with top clubs including Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Inter Milan.

In the documentary, Mourinho stated, "I think the objective of this work that we are doing [shooting a docuseries] is to tell the truth. When I left Real Madrid, I signed with Manchester United to go to Manchester United after Sir Alex [Ferguson]." His first tenure at Real Madrid, which lasted from 2010 to 2013, concluded with a La Liga title and a Copa del Rey victory, but it was marred by a deteriorating relationship with key players, including club captain Iker Casillas.

Sir Alex Ferguson, who announced his retirement at the end of the 2012-13 season after a remarkable 27-year reign, confirmed that he had offered Mourinho the managerial position. "He was offered a job, yes. I sat him down and explained the situation. And as far as I was concerned, he was accepting. And then within hours, it changed," Ferguson recounted. Despite being flattered by the opportunity, Mourinho chose to rejoin Chelsea, citing a need for affirmation after a challenging period in Spain.

Ferguson recalled a poignant phone call from Mourinho, who was emotional about his decision. "He was crying, and he says 'Oh, I cannot take it, I have given my word to Chelsea, and I'm not going to break my word,'" Ferguson shared. The Manchester United icon expressed disappointment but understood Mourinho's reasoning.

Looking back, Mourinho expressed no regrets about his choice to return to Chelsea instead of stepping into Ferguson's shoes. "For me to lose the chance to be the coach to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson was dramatic. But I don't regret it because it was a decision that I made with my heart," he explained. He quoted philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, stating, "When you do something for love, you are never doing anything wrong." Mourinho acknowledged the weight of his decision, emphasizing the responsibility he felt to uphold his legacy.

During his first spell at Chelsea, Mourinho ended a 50-year wait for a league title, winning the Premier League in both 2004 and 2005. He returned for a second stint from 2013 to 2015, clinching another league title in the 2014-15 season. However, his time at Chelsea ended in 2016 when he was dismissed following a poor start to the season. Later that year, he took the helm at Manchester United, where he secured the UEFA Europa League and the League Cup during his tenure.