Jose Mourinho: How Manchester United missed out on first choice to replace Sir Alex Ferguson
A new documentary reveals that Manchester United nearly hired Jose Mourinho to replace Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013. The deal fell through after Mourinho chose to honor his commitment to return to Chelsea.
Why it matters
Provides historical context to a major turning point in English football management and the legacy of Manchester United.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Manchester United wanted Jose Mourinho (right) to replace Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013
Manchester United reporter Published 10 August 2026 "Sliding doors".
The description from more than one person connected to Manchester United in 2013 about the failure to secure Jose Mourinho as Sir Alex Ferguson's replacement.
Confirmation of something that has been rumoured for many years has come in a new documentary series about Mourinho's career, which is on Netflix from 11 August.
The actual decision reversal was fast, "days", one source has told BBC Sport.
However, another has explained the process to secure Mourinho's services had been going on for weeks.
Meetings had been held in Madrid and London, with Ferguson stunning Mourinho, someone he liked and had plenty of admiration for, by telling the charismatic Portuguese he was going to stand down at the end of the 2012-13 campaign.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in