Jose Mourinho said he had an agreement to replace Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager in 2013 [1].
The revelation provides a new perspective on one of the most pivotal transitions in Premier League history. While the club eventually appointed different leadership, this claim suggests a secret succession plan existed between two of football's most prominent figures.
According to reports, the deal to move to Old Trafford was established during 2013 [1]. This arrangement would have seen Mourinho take the helm of the English club immediately following Ferguson's departure. However, the transition never materialized as the agreement was later cancelled [1].
The collapse of the deal followed a specific emotional exchange. The agreement was scrapped after a phone call between Mourinho and Ferguson [2]. The nature of the conversation led to the dissolution of the plan, leaving the managerial seat open for other candidates.
Mourinho has frequently discussed his career trajectory and his relationship with Ferguson over the years. This specific account of a failed 2013 [1] appointment adds to the complex history of Mourinho's eventual actual tenure with the club. The details suggest that the emotional bond between the two managers outweighed the professional agreement they had reached.
Manchester United has faced significant volatility in its managerial positions since the era of Ferguson. The idea that Mourinho was the intended successor in 2013 [1] highlights the internal deliberations the club and Ferguson faced during that period. The disclosure clarifies that the path to the manager's office was not as straightforward as public records initially indicated.
“Jose Mourinho said he had an agreement to replace Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager in 2013.”
This claim suggests that the transition of power at Manchester United was influenced more by personal relationships than purely strategic hiring. If a deal was indeed in place, it indicates that Sir Alex Ferguson had a direct hand in selecting his successor, a move that would have bypassed traditional club recruitment processes and potentially altered the club's trajectory for a decade.
