José Mourinho was all set to replace Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United boss in 2013 before changing his mind at the last minute and re-joining Chelsea, a new Netflix docuseries on the Portuguese manager has revealed.
The three-episode series titled Mourinho has been produced by Ventureland, the company that made the acclaimed documentaries Beckham and FIFA Uncovered, and tells the story of Mourinho’s hugely-successful and controversial career.
The release of the docuseries on Aug. 11 is timely, with Mourinho ready to embark on his second-stint as Real Madrid manager after a sensational return this summer.
A significant portion of the Netlfix docuseries is on his first spell at the Bernabéu, where he successfully broke the dominance of Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona. But by the end of his three-year stint at the club, his relationship with a majority of the squad had broken down completely and he was engaged in an acrimonious feud with club captain Iker Casillas.
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Madrid finished the season trophyless and Mourinho left by mutual consent in the summer of 2013. It was during this period that the sliding doors moment occured in his career.
“I think the objective of this work that we are doing [shooting a docu-series] is to tell the truth. When I left Real Madrid, I signed with Manchester United to go to Manchester United after Sir Alex [Ferguson], ” the Portuguese said in the docuseries.
Ferguson announced his decision to step down as Man United manager at the end of the 2012-13 season, bringing an end to his historic 26-year tenure at the club.
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“He [Mourinho] was offered a job, yes. I sat him down and explained the situation. And as far as I was concerned, he was accepting. And then within hours it changed,” Ferguson said on the docuseries.
Mourinho admitted to being flattered by the offer but opted to re-join Chelsea as he “needed to feel that I’m loved” after a bruising period at Madrid.
“Evening he phoned me and he was crying and he says ‘Oh, I can’t take it, I’ve given my word to Chelsea and I’m not going to break my word,'” Ferguson said.
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“The reason he gave to me, I could understand. But I was disappointed.”
Reflecting on his decision to spurn United, Mourinho said: “For me to lose the chance to be the coach to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson was dramatic. But I don’t regret because it was a decision that I made with my heart. And I think it is Nietzsche that says that when you do something for love, you are never doing anything wrong. I think it’s nature. I did it for love.
“I went back with the feeling of yes, I go home, but with a big responsibility because what I did before is history and you don’t want to destroy your legacy.”
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Mourinho ended Chelsea’s 50-year wait for a league title during his first stint by winning the Premier League in 2004 and then won it again the following year.
In his second stint at Stamford Bridge, he won the league title in the 2014-15 season. After a dismal start to the 2016-17 season, he was fired for the second time by owner Roman Abramovich.
The Portuguese belatedly became Man United manager in 2016, and won the Europa League and League Cup during his two-and-a-half year spell at Old Trafford.
