{
  "id": 417841,
  "title": "Mourinho says he agreed to replace Ferguson at Man Utd",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/mourinho-says-he-agreed-to-replace-ferguson-at-man-utd",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-09T23:01:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC Sport",
    "slug": "bbc-sport",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cr7kldj1583o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Jose Mourinho has revealed that he agreed to replace Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United's manager in 2013, before deciding to re-join Chelsea instead. Ferguson, then 63, made the offer after Mourinho left Real Madrid, stating that the former United coach had accepted the position. However, Mourinho changed his mind within hours due to a commitment he had made to Chelsea, where he had won back-to-back Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006. When Ferguson subsequently called Mourinho and expressed his disappointment, the ex-Chelsea manager admitted that he couldn't break his word to the London club.",
  "summary": "David Moyes succeeded Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford in 2013 but things could have been so different, Jose Mourinho reveals in a new documentary.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Mourinho says he agreed to replace Ferguson at Man Utd",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/mourinho-says-he-agreed-to-replace-ferguson-at-man-utd-424680",
        "published": "2026-08-09T22:31:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Sport Football",
        "title": "Mourinho says he agreed to replace Ferguson at Man Utd",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/mourinho-says-he-agreed-to-replace-ferguson-at-man-utd-417881",
        "published": "2026-08-09T23:01:26.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Mourinho reveals he signed to replace Ferguson at Man United before tearfully backing out",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/10/mourinho-reveals-he-signed-to-replace-ferguson-at-man-united-before",
        "published": "2026-08-10T01:58:59.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Adom Online",
        "title": "Mourinho says he agreed to replace Ferguson at Man Utd",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/10/mourinho-says-he-agreed-to-replace-ferguson-at-man-utd",
        "published": "2026-08-10T04:55:26.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}