Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that José Mourinho was expected to succeed him at the club in 2013 before an emotional phone call changed the situation.
Ferguson made the revelation in a documentary about Mourinho, explaining that he had believed the Portuguese manager was ready to take over at Manchester United following his decision to retire at the end of the 2012/13 season.
According to Ferguson, Mourinho had been seriously considered for the position and appeared ready to become his successor.
However, the situation changed when Mourinho called Ferguson one evening and told him that he had already committed himself to returning to Chelsea.
“Early evening he phoned me and he was crying,” Ferguson recalled. “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.’”
Ferguson said he understood Mourinho’s decision but admitted that he was disappointed because he had expected the former Chelsea manager to take charge at Old Trafford.
Mourinho eventually returned to Chelsea in June 2013, beginning his second spell at Stamford Bridge after previously managing the club between 2004 and 2007.
Manchester United instead appointed David Moyes as Ferguson’s successor. Moyes signed a six-year contract but struggled during his first season and was dismissed in April 2014, less than a year into the job.
Mourinho later became Manchester United manager in 2016, succeeding Louis van Gaal. He guided the club to the League Cup and Europa League titles during his first season and also won the Community Shield.
His time at Old Trafford eventually ended in December 2018 following a difficult start to the 2018/19 campaign.
