José Mourinho signed a contract in 2013 [1] to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson as the manager of Manchester United, according to a Netflix documentary.
The revelation provides new insight into one of the most pivotal managerial transitions in Premier League history. For years, the narrative surrounding the post-Ferguson era focused on the club's struggle to find a stable replacement, while Mourinho's return to Chelsea was seen as a separate trajectory.
Mourinho said that he had reached a formal agreement with Manchester United [1] to take over the helm of the club following Ferguson's departure. However, the Portuguese manager later withdrew from the deal [2]. Instead of moving to Old Trafford, he chose to return to Chelsea [1].
The decision to renege on the contract was based on Mourinho's preference for the London-based club [1]. This choice fundamentally altered the immediate future of both teams: Chelsea regained a manager with a proven track record of success, while Manchester United continued its search for a leader to maintain its dominance in English football.
Reports indicate the agreement occurred during the transition period in 2013 [1], [2]. While Mourinho eventually managed Manchester United years later, this newly revealed timeline shows that the opportunity existed much earlier than previously known [3].
The documentary highlights the internal calculations and professional pivots that define the careers of elite football managers. By choosing Chelsea over the immediate vacancy at United, Mourinho opted for a familiar environment over the pressure of succeeding the most successful manager in the club's history [2].
“Mourinho signed a contract in 2013 to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson”
This disclosure suggests that Manchester United had a direct path to one of the world's most successful managers immediately after the Ferguson era. Had the deal proceeded, the club might have avoided the period of managerial instability and tactical inconsistency that characterized its leadership transitions throughout the mid-2010s.
