Jose Mourinho had agreed to replace Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager in 2013, according to a BBC report on the matter.
The revelation adds a significant new chapter to one of football’s most discussed managerial transitions, raising fresh questions about what might have been at Old Trafford.
Ferguson retired from management at the end of the 2012-13 season after more than 26 years in charge of Manchester United, leaving an enormous void to fill.
The legendary Scottish manager had guided United to 13 Premier League titles, two Champions League trophies, and countless other honours during his extraordinary reign at the club.
Mourinho was widely regarded as one of the finest managers in world football at the time, having won league titles in Portugal, England, Italy, and Spain across his career.
The Portuguese manager had previously been in charge of Chelsea, Inter Milan, and Real Madrid before becoming available ahead of that pivotal summer transfer window.
United ultimately turned to David Moyes to succeed Ferguson, a decision that proved disastrous as the former Everton boss was sacked less than a season into his tenure.
Moyes was replaced by Ryan Giggs on an interim basis before Louis van Gaal was eventually appointed as permanent manager for the 2014-15 season.
Mourinho did eventually take charge at Old Trafford, but not until 2016, when he was appointed following the sacking of Van Gaal after his second season in charge.
His time at United produced an EFL Cup and a Europa League trophy, though he was dismissed in December 2018 with the club sitting sixth in the Premier League table.
The suggestion that a deal had been agreed as far back as 2013 will inevitably prompt debate among United supporters about the different trajectory the club might have taken.
It remains one of the most tantalising sliding doors moments in modern Premier League history, given the turbulent years that followed Ferguson’s departure from the dugout.
