Jose Mourinho has finally addressed long-standing speculation regarding his near-appointment as Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor at Manchester United in 2013. In a new Netflix documentary series detailing his career, the 63-year-old coach confirmed that he had reached a formal agreement to take the Old Trafford job before ultimately changing his mind to return to Chelsea.
Sir Alex Ferguson, who retired in 2013 after securing 13 Premier League titles during his 26-year tenure, corroborated the account. He noted that he had sat down with Mourinho to explain the situation and believed the deal was set. However, the arrangement fell through within hours of that discussion.
The shift occurred because Mourinho felt compelled to return to Stamford Bridge, where he had previously achieved back-to-back Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006. Ferguson recalled receiving a phone call from the manager, who was in tears, explaining that he could not break the word he had given to Chelsea. While Ferguson admitted he was disappointed, he stated that he understood the reasoning behind the decision.
Mourinho described himself as feeling deeply flattered by the offer, acknowledging the immense appeal of Manchester United. Ultimately, he explained that his choice was driven by a need to feel loved after his stint at Real Madrid, noting that his decision was made with his heart rather than just his professional ambition. Despite missing the chance to succeed Ferguson, he maintained that he held no regrets.
Following his return to Chelsea in 2013, Mourinho secured a third Premier League title and a League Cup. He eventually took the Manchester United job in May 2016, succeeding Louis van Gaal. During his two-and-a-half-year spell in Manchester, he won the League Cup and the Europa League before his departure in December 2018.
Mourinho recently returned to Real Madrid for a second spell. His previous tenure at the club, which ended in 2013, was marked by significant friction, particularly with club captain Iker Casillas. The documentary explores the breakdown of their relationship, which Casillas described as cold and pushed to a breaking point.
Sami Khedira, a former Real Madrid midfielder, reflected on the atmosphere during that period, describing the locker room as a nightmare. He noted that the rift between Mourinho and key players like Casillas, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Sergio Ramos severely damaged the team’s internal harmony.
Mourinho remained unapologetic regarding his management style, claiming that he found the squad to be spoiled. He cited specific instances where Casillas requested extra holidays for national team players, asked to delay training sessions due to traffic, and pushed to avoid staying in hotels before matches.
The tension was further exacerbated by Mourinho’s stance on the rivalry with Barcelona. Casillas revealed that he clashed with the manager over his treatment of international teammates who played for the Catalan club. Mourinho defended his approach, asserting that he would never accept a lack of respect and that the rivalry was akin to war.
During his initial time in Madrid, Mourinho had successfully challenged the dominance of Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona, winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup. His 2011-12 team set a league record by amassing 100 points. However, the situation deteriorated in his third season, with the team finishing 15 points behind Barcelona, leading to his exit.
The documentary also touches upon the complex professional relationship Mourinho maintained with former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who hired and fired the manager on two separate occasions. Throughout his career, Mourinho has frequently navigated high-pressure environments, often prioritizing his personal standards and team discipline over established hierarchies.
By revisiting these pivotal moments, the documentary highlights the volatile nature of elite football management. From the missed opportunity at Old Trafford to the internal conflicts at the Bernabeu, Mourinho’s career remains defined by his uncompromising pursuit of success and his willingness to make difficult, often controversial, decisions.
“I sat him down and explained the situation,” he added: “As far as I was concerned, he was accepting.
“One night, he phoned me and he was crying and he says, ‘Alex, I can’t take it.
“The reason he gave to me, I could understand, but I was disappointed.”
“But one thing is love for football, another thing is love for a certain club,” he explained.
On the eve of his Real reunion, the combative manager and former Spain goalkeeper Casillas spoke candidly about the reasons behind those differences.
However, the wheels came off in Mourinho’s third season in the Spanish capital and he was dismissed at the end of 2012-13 with Real finishing 15 points behind rivals Barcelona.
The goalkeeper made 725 appearances across 25 years at Real, winning three Champions League titles and five La Liga crowns, but had spent much of the 2012-13 season on the bench.
“In those years, I really think it was taken to a limit where in the end, the rope broke.”
He benched him, doesn’t speak to him, spoke bad about him in the media, so then this locker room was a nightmare, honestly,” he said.
Mourinho claimed that the keeper had a bad attitude.
And in a short period of time, I realised they’re spoilt.”
Comments