Jose Mourinho Reveals He Signed Contract to Succeed Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2013 Before Chelsea U Turn

Jose Mourinho just dropped a big piece of football history: back in 2013, he actually signed a contract to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. Then, at the very last moment, he backed out—he says he was in tears—so he could head back to Chelsea instead.

It all happened during a huge summer in English football. Ferguson had just retired after leading United to their 13th Premier League title. He'd already talked things through with Mourinho, who was finishing up at Real Madrid, and even got his signature to take over at Old Trafford.

In a new documentary about his career, Mourinho opens up about it. He says the offer from United was a huge honor, but honestly, his connection to Chelsea won out. After leaving Spain, he felt this strong pull—he needed to get back somewhere he truly felt at home. And that, for him, meant Chelsea. He couldn’t shake it. He decided, at the last possible moment, to go back to London.

Ferguson remembers the moment well—Mourinho called him one evening, crying, and said he just couldn’t go through with it. He’d given his word to Chelsea, and for him, breaking that promise wasn’t an option. Sure, Ferguson was disappointed—Mourinho had been his first choice—but he understood where Mourinho was coming from.

After Mourinho stepped away, United gave the job to David Moyes. It didn’t go well—Moyes only lasted about ten months. Mourinho did end up at Old Trafford three years later, won the Europa League and the League Cup, and spent two and a half seasons in charge.

Looking back, Mourinho says he wouldn’t change a thing. For him, going back to Chelsea wasn’t just a career move—it was all about loyalty and real affection for the club that felt like home.