José Mourinho revealed he signed a contract to manage Manchester United in 2013 [1] before ultimately choosing to return to Chelsea.

The revelation provides a rare glimpse into the high-stakes managerial carousel of the Premier League and the personal motivations that drive elite coaches.

Speaking in a documentary released in 2026, Mourinho said he had a deal in place to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson [1]. The timing of the offer coincided with his departure from Real Madrid, placing him as a primary candidate for one of the most prestigious roles in global football.

"I signed a deal with Manchester United in 2013 before I went back to Chelsea," Mourinho said [1].

Despite the formal agreement, Mourinho opted to decline the position at the last minute. He said that a contract was on the table to replace Ferguson, but he turned it down [2]. The decision shifted the trajectory of both clubs during a transitional period for Manchester United following the retirement of their long-serving manager.

Mourinho said his decision was based on emotional ties and a desire for professional validation. He said he needed to feel loved, which led him to choose Chelsea over the United job [3]. This return to London marked the beginning of his second stint with the club he had previously led to multiple titles.

While Mourinho asserts that a deal was signed, other reports suggest the situation was less formal. Some accounts indicate that while he was approached and considered the role, no formal contract was actually signed [1]. This discrepancy highlights the often-opaque nature of football negotiations, where verbal agreements and preliminary contracts frequently overlap.

Regardless of the paperwork, the move solidified Mourinho's legacy at Chelsea while leaving Manchester United to search for a successor to Ferguson through other means.

“"I signed a deal with Manchester United in 2013 before I went back to Chelsea."”

This disclosure underscores the volatility of managerial appointments in top-flight football, where signed agreements do not always result in official appointments. It also highlights Mourinho's career-long pattern of prioritizing emotional connection and perceived loyalty over the prestige of a specific project, a trait that defined his multiple tenures at Chelsea.