Mourinho says he agreed to replace Ferguson at Man Utd

Jose Mourinho has revealed he reached an agreement to become Manchester United manager following Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013, a position ultimately filled by David Moyes. The Portuguese coach disclosed this significant detail in a new documentary, shedding light on what could have been one of football's most pivotal managerial transitions. At the time, Mourinho was managing Chelsea and had recently completed a treble-winning season with Porto, establishing himself as one of Europe's most sought-after tacticians.

Ferguson's 26-year reign at Old Trafford ended with the club sitting atop the Premier League with 89 points and their 13th title in 20 years. Instead of appointing Mourinho, United's board selected Moyes, Ferguson's personal recommendation, who had achieved consistent mid-table finishes with Everton over 11 seasons. Moyes' appointment proved disastrous, as he managed just 11 victories in his first 28 league matches, ultimately lasting only 10 months before being sacked. Meanwhile, Mourinho would go on to manage Chelsea again before spells at Real Madrid and other top European clubs, establishing an extraordinary trophy cabinet including multiple Premier League titles and a Champions League victory.

The revelation raises intriguing questions about Manchester United's trajectory had Mourinho taken the role instead. His track record of immediate success at Chelsea, where he won back-to-back Premier League titles and established dominant teams, suggests a markedly different outcome for the Red Devils. United spent the subsequent decade attempting to recapture their former dominance, cycling through six managers across eleven seasons before finally stabilizing. Mourinho's documented willingness to take the job adds another layer to the historical what-if surrounding one of English football's most consequential decisions.