Mourinho Reveals Why He Turned Down Manchester United Job

Jose Mourinho disclosed that he had initially accepted the role of Manchester United manager to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013 after Ferguson announced his retirement. Mourinho, who had just left Real Madrid, stated, “When I left Real Madrid, I signed to go to Manchester United after Sir Alex.” Ferguson confirmed that Mourinho had agreed to the succession plan but later changed his mind within hours.

Instead of taking the position at Old Trafford, Mourinho opted to return to Chelsea, where he had previously won two Premier League titles. He informed Ferguson that he could not break his commitment to Chelsea, saying, “Alex, I can’t take it.

I’ve given my word to Chelsea and I’m not going to break my word.” Although Ferguson understood Mourinho's reasoning, he expressed disappointment. Mourinho acknowledged that missing the chance to succeed Ferguson was significant but maintained that he had no regrets, emphasizing the emotional connection he felt towards Chelsea.

He returned to Chelsea in 2013 and won the Premier League title and League Cup in the 2014/15 season.