2026-08-10 11:30:08

Jose Mourinho phoned Sir Alex Ferguson in tears to turn down the Manchester United job.

The 63-year-old manager has confirmed he agreed to replace the legendary Red Devils boss when he retired in 2013, but he changed his mind after being approached over a return to Chelsea.

Speaking in new Netflix documentary Mourinho, he said: “When I left Real Madrid, I signed to go to Manchester United after Sir Alex.”

Sir Alex added: “He was offered the job, yes. I sat him down and explained the situation.

“As far as I was concerned, he was accepting. And then, within hours, it changed.”

Ferguson, who won 13 Premier League Titles during a glittering 26-year career at Old Trafford, reflected on the moment Mourinho changed his mind.

He recalled: “One night, he phoned me and he was crying 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.”

Mourinho didn’t feel comfortable rejecting a return to the Blues, having won back-to-back Premier League titles there in 2005 and 2006.

Despite being “very flattered” by the United offer, he knew Chelsea was the right move at the time.

Mourinho explained: “Manchester United has an incredible appeal… 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’m loved.

“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.”

Mourinho won a third Premier League title with Chelsea after his return in 2013, as well as the League Cup.

In 2016, he accepted a second offer to manage United, following on from Louis van Gaal’s tenure.

He spent two and a half years with the club, winning the League Cup and Europa League.

Over the next few years, he had spells with Spurs, Roma, Fenerbahçe and Benfica, before recently signing on for a Real Madrid return.

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