Jose Mourinho initially agreed to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United

Jose Mourinho initially agreed to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2013 but withdrew after deciding to honour a commitment to Chelsea. These details are confirmed in a new Netflix documentary about Mourinho's career, with BBC Sport reporting accounts from those connected to the club regarding the process. Ferguson had informed Mourinho of his decision to retire at the end of the 2012-13 season during meetings in Madrid and London. While one source claims the change of heart happened within days, another suggests negotiations had been ongoing for weeks. Terms had been agreed upon, but the deal was never finalised. In the documentary, Ferguson recounts that Mourinho called him one night in tears, stating he could not take the job because he had given his word to Chelsea. While Mourinho cited family reasons, some at United remain sceptical, noting his family home in London and his previous promise to return to the city following his 2007 departure from Chelsea. His relationship with former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is also cited as a potential factor. That summer, both Ferguson and chief executive David Gill departed. United's hierarchy believed they needed a manager capable of handling the transition, as the club required a structural overhaul beyond just replacing Ferguson. With Mourinho out of the running and Pep Guardiola committed to Bayern Munich, United turned to Everton manager David Moyes. Despite being labelled the 'Chosen One', Moyes struggled, and the club finished seventh. Mourinho eventually took the job in 2016 following the sacking of Louis van Gaal. However, the squad had changed significantly; of the 18 players who started at least 10 league games in the 2012-13 title-winning season, only six remained in significant roles by Mourinho's first campaign. Mourinho won the Europa League and League Cup, and secured a second-place finish with 81 points—the club's best post-Ferguson record. Despite this, he faced internal friction, notably with Paul Pogba, and felt unsupported by the board regarding Anthony Martial. Some sources suggest that had Mourinho taken over immediately after Ferguson, he would have acted more decisively in the transfer market, potentially securing targets like Thiago Alcantara and Daniele De Rossi, and avoiding the late, costly pursuit of Marouane Fellaini. Mourinho remains the only manager to win a European trophy for United since Ferguson's retirement, yet his legacy remains debated. The BBC report suggests his 2013 U-turn was a significant blow from which some believe the club has yet to fully recover.