Jose Mourinho has opened up about one of the biggest managerial decisions of his career, revealing that he had initially agreed to take charge of Manchester United in 2013 before opting to return to Chelsea.

The Portuguese manager made the revelation in a Netflix documentary examining his career. According to Mourinho, he had accepted the opportunity to succeed legendary United manager Sir Alex Ferguson after leaving Real Madrid.

However, the agreement did not last. Mourinho ultimately decided against moving to Old Trafford because of his strong emotional connection with Chelsea, where he had previously enjoyed a successful first spell.

Ferguson also recalled the dramatic change of plans, saying Mourinho initially appeared ready to accept the United position before contacting him and explaining that he had given his word to Chelsea.

Mourinho admitted that replacing Ferguson was an opportunity he regarded highly, particularly because of Manchester United’s global stature.

Nevertheless, he said his personal attachment to Chelsea ultimately influenced his decision.

The manager returned to Stamford Bridge in 2013 and guided the club to another Premier League title and League Cup triumph during his second spell.

His move to Manchester United eventually happened three years later. Mourinho took over from Louis van Gaal in 2016 and spent approximately two and a half years at Old Trafford.

During his United tenure, he won the League Cup and Europa League before leaving the club in December 2018.

Mourinho’s revelation offers a fascinating glimpse into an alternative chapter of Manchester United history and raises questions about how the club’s post-Ferguson era could have developed had he accepted the job in 2013.