Jose Mourinho has confirmed he turned down the chance to succeed Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2013, three years before he eventually joined the Red Devils.
Mourinho is now back in charge of Real Madrid for a second time, having won LaLiga, the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de Espana in his first spell, between 2010 and 2013.
Upon leaving Los Blancos, Mourinho was strongly linked with the United job, with Ferguson retiring after 27 years in charge.
Mourinho ultimately wound up rejoining Chelsea, who he led to the Premier League title for a third time in 2014-15, and he has now revealed how close he came to replacing Ferguson.
In a new Netflix documentary entitled Mourinho, both he and Ferguson discuss his sudden U-turn on the United job, which led to David Moyes' appointment.
"He was offered the job, yes. I sat him down and explained the situation," Ferguson said. "As far as I was concerned, he was accepting.
"And then, within hours, it changed. One night, he phoned me, and he was crying, and he said, '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."
United's first campaign following Ferguson's retirement was a major disappointment. As defending champions, they finished seventh in the Premier League under Moyes, who lasted less than 12 months in the job.
Mourinho eventually joined United in 2016 and won the EFL Cup and the Europa League during his two-and-a-half-year reign, also leading them to a second-placed Premier League finish.
That remains the Red Devils' joint-highest finish since Ferguson's retirement, matched only by another runner-up finish under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2020-21.
Looking back to the summer of 2013, Mourinho said the emotional pull of a return to Chelsea, where he had already won two league titles and three domestic cups between 2004 and 2007, was too strong to resist.
"When I left Real Madrid, I signed to go to Manchester United after Sir Alex," Mourinho said. "But one thing is love for football, another thing is love for a certain club.
"I think this is more powerful than love for football and, fundamentally, after Real Madrid, I needed to feel that I was loved.
"For me to lose the chance to be the coach to succeed Alex Ferguson was dramatic, but I don't regret it because it was a decision that I made with my heart."
Adeyemi7883
0
I wonder why you people are saying monriho failed at Man U? Firstly he won 3 trophies community shield, carabao cup and Europa league with a very bad team, he complained he needed player they never supported him all the players he called for was later bought for ole gona or so, to me he did well, and he complained about Ogba but monriho was tagged the bad person at the long run pogba showed why he was the virus in the team so please never say monriho failed at Man U. The board and so players failed him
Zizbcdmnru
0
The good thing you managed it later and you failed. So we have seen what you had for our team.
Mourinho time at Manchester was the greatest feat ever as a coach And to be at 2nd place with that bad team was a greatest achievement for every coach and he even won Europa
Yoslmntu
0
ieheyt
Bigflow
0
but you failed when that opportunity came 😂😂😂
Failed how? 5 finals in 2 and half years. 3 titles. 81 points, highest finish ever post saf. You call this failure? This is failure to you?
Lovebug2
1
Nonsense noise from a failed coach. Wait for Madrid flop # 2
muuabdkty
1
but you failed when that opportunity came 😂😂😂
setcdkosu
2
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 he eventually did & failed miserably
no he didnt fail but the body failed him🤣🤣🤣
ndyagumgerald
3
The good thing you managed it later and you failed. So we have seen what you had for our team.
yeeceprtz
4
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 he eventually did & failed miserably
Fepbcilnoz
1
So what but he later managed Man U