Now Reading: Mourinho says he almost replaced Ferguson at Manchester United
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Mourinho says he almost replaced Ferguson at Manchester United
Jose Mourinho has confirmed he was close to replacing Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager after Ferguson's retirement in 2013. In a Netflix documentary, Mourinho said he had agreed to take…
The Story in Brief
Jose Mourinho has confirmed he was close to replacing Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager after Ferguson's retirement in 2013. In a Netflix documentary, Mourinho said he had agreed to take over but then chose to return to Chelsea, where he had previously won two Premier League titles. Ferguson confirmed the offer was made and that Mourinho initially accepted before changing his mind within hours.
Mourinho described missing the chance to succeed Ferguson as 'dramatic' but said he does not regret the decision because it was made with his heart. He eventually managed Manchester United from 2016 to 2019, winning the Europa League. He is currently in his second spell at Real Madrid.
The Indian Opinion
The story of Mourinho nearly succeeding Ferguson feeds the 'what if' machine that football loves. But the narrative that Mourinho was the chosen one who slipped away ignores his own admission: he left with his heart, not his head. The real test is not whether he would have matched Ferguson's longevity, but whether any manager could have sustained that dominance. The 2013 decision was a gamble for both men. Mourinho's later stint at United was less successful than his Chelsea spells. That question remains: was it the wrong club, or the wrong moment?
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
