Jose Mourinho Turned Down Manchester United In 2013 Tearful Call To Sir Alex Ferguson

In a series of candid revelations from a new Netflix documentary detailing his legendary career, José Mourinho has recounted a tearful call to Sir Alex Ferguson, during which he backed out of an agreement to succeed the Scot at Manchester United in 2013.

The former Chelsea, Inter Milan, and Real Madrid manager confirmed that he had actually signed a contract to take over at Old Trafford, only to make an emotional U-turn and return for a second spell at Chelsea.

The Secret Pact with Sir Alex Ferguson

Rumors were rife that Mourinho was Ferguson’s handpicked successor when the legendary Scottish manager decided to end his 26-year reign at Manchester United. In the documentary, Mourinho confirms that a deal was not only offered, but agreed upon.

“When I left Real Madrid, I signed with Manchester United to go to Manchester United after Sir Alex,” Mourinho revealed. “I was of course very flattered because Manchester United has an incredible appeal. When I say Real Madrid is the biggest club in the world, I have to say that Man United is very, very close.”

“He Was Crying”, Says Sir Alex

Sir Alex Ferguson himself features in the documentary to confirm the agreement, recounting the dramatic conversation where everything changed in a matter of hours:

“He was offered the job, yes,” Ferguson recalled. “I sat him down and explained the situation, and as far as I was concerned he was accepting. Then within hours it changed. Early evening he phoned me and he was crying and he says, ‘Alex, I can’t take it, I’ve given my word to Chelsea and I’m not going to break my word.'”

Love Over Ambition: Why Chelsea Won His Heart

Despite the magnitude of succeeding Ferguson at Old Trafford, Mourinho explained that his deep emotional connection to Stamford Bridge and his desire to feel appreciated led him back to West London.

• Emotional Loyalty: Having built a bond during his first spell at Chelsea (2004–2007), Mourinho felt an overwhelming obligation to honor his word to the Blues.
• Needing Affection: Following a grueling and divisive three-year stint at Real Madrid, Mourinho prioritized emotional attachment over professional ambition:“One thing is love for football, another thing is love for a certain club. I think this is more powerful than love for football, and fundamentally, after Real Madrid, I needed to feel that I am loved.”
• No Regrets: Quoting Friedrich Nietzsche, Mourinho reflected on the painful decision:“For me to lose the chance to be the coach to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson was dramatic, but I don’t regret it because it was a decision that I made with my heart. I think that it is Nietzsche that said when you do something for love you are never doing anything wrong. I did it for love.”

Mourinho went on to win the Premier League title and League Cup in his second spell at Stamford Bridge before eventually taking the Man Utd job three years later in May 2016.

He has now returned to Real Madrid for a second spell at the Spanish giants, where he successfully led them to the 2012 La Liga title with his compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo.

Warning Netflix: “You Are Being Manipulated”

Known throughout his career for battling media narratives, Mourinho cautioned the filmmakers against allowing external agendas or biased sources to shape the documentary’s storyline.

Mourinho told the Netflix crew directly that they were being “manipulated” by surrounding figures and media storylines attempting to spin historical events.

The documentary covers the high-stakes friction and personal dynamics that defined his managerial career—including his falling-out with Iker Casillas at Real Madrid, his complex relationship with former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, and his eventual tenure at Manchester United.

The Netflix crew admitted they knew Mourinho, a master of mind games, was manipulating them.

“We were being manipulated constantly as well, and we knew that. But going into a show with someone like José Mourinho, if you’re not being manipulated, then we’re not doing our job right,” director Joe Pearlman told ESPN.

This video from Netflix’s Official Trailer gives an exclusive look into the career retrospective where José Mourinho breaks down his biggest career decisions. The three-part series is released on Tuesday.