Mourinho says he agreed to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, former manager Jose Mourinho has stated in a new documentary. The film includes Mourinho’s account of discussions surrounding the managerial succession at Old Trafford, and confirms that he reached an agreement to take over the role that eventually went to David Moyes in 2013.
The transition at Manchester United in 2013 followed the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, who had managed the club for more than two decades. David Moyes succeeded Ferguson and served as manager during the 2013-2014 season. The documentary presents Mourinho’s version of the events leading up to that appointment and situates his claim within the wider chronology of managerial changes at the club.
The documentary does not provide new official documentation from the club but records Mourinho’s personal testimony about the discussions and his stated willingness to accept the managerial post. Mourinho later went on to manage other clubs, including a subsequent spell as Manchester United manager from 2016 to 2018, a period already well documented in public records. The film focuses on first-hand recollection rather than presenting new contractual evidence.
The revelation in the documentary adds detail to a period that has been subject to extensive reporting and analysis since 2013. Club statements from that time confirmed David Moyes as the chosen successor to Sir Alex Ferguson, and the documentary situates Mourinho’s account alongside the established public record. The material will be of interest to observers of managerial succession at major clubs and to historians tracking developments at Old Trafford.
