A newly released documentary on Jose Mourinho's career, streaming on Netflix from August 11, has confirmed long-standing rumours about how close Manchester United came to appointing the Portuguese coach as Sir Alex Ferguson's successor in 2013 - only for the deal to collapse at the eleventh hour.
According to sources connected to the club, discussions between United and Mourinho had been ongoing for weeks, with meetings taking place in both Madrid and London. Ferguson himself informed Mourinho, a manager he respected and admired, of his intention to retire at the end of the 2012-13 season. The two parties reportedly progressed swiftly to discussing terms, and an agreement was reached.
That agreement, however, did not survive. One insider described the reversal as happening within days, even though the broader negotiation process had spanned a longer period. Ferguson recalled the moment Mourinho withdrew, saying: "One night, he phoned me and he was crying and he says: 'Alex, I can't take it. I've given my word to Chelsea and I'm not going to break my word.'"
Mourinho pointed to family reasons for his decision, though some within United's setup remain skeptical this told the full story. It is true he maintained a family home in London and had previously vowed to return there after being sacked by Chelsea in 2007. His close relationship with then-Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is also believed to have influenced his choice to honor his commitment to the London club.
The collapse of the deal left United in a difficult position, as Ferguson's departure coincided with that of respected chief executive David Gill. The club felt it needed a manager capable of not only stepping into Ferguson's shoes but also overseeing a broader restructuring of how the club operated behind the scenes - something Ferguson himself had single-handedly controlled for years.
With Mourinho no longer an option and Pep Guardiola having already committed his future to Bayern Munich, United turned to David Moyes, then in charge of Everton. Moyes was seen as sharing several traits with Ferguson but lacked experience operating at the elite level United required. His unveiling as "The Chosen One" would prove premature, as his tenure ended in disappointment.
Mourinho eventually did take charge of Manchester United in 2016, succeeding Louis van Gaal, who was dismissed just 48 hours after winning the FA Cup. By then, though, the dressing room had changed dramatically - only six of the 18 players who had made 10 or more Premier League starts during United's title-winning 2012-13 campaign remained regular starters under Mourinho.
Mourinho's own managerial identity had also shifted. He had lifted the Premier League title during a second spell at Chelsea but departed under difficult circumstances in December 2015, with the club languishing near the relegation zone.
His time at Old Trafford yielded mixed results: he delivered the Europa League and League Cup in his debut season and led United to two Champions League qualifications, including a runner-up finish behind Manchester City - a result he later described as one of his career's finest achievements. United's tally of 81 points that season remains their highest in any post-Ferguson Premier League campaign. Yet his relationship with several players soured, notably Paul Pogba, and he publicly criticized the club's leadership for not supporting his push to sell striker Anthony Martial.
There is a widespread belief that Mourinho would have made a greater impact had he taken over immediately in 2013. Insiders suggest his assertiveness in the transfer market would have ensured the completion of a move for Thiago Alcantara from Barcelona, a deal that fell through under Moyes. It is also thought Mourinho would have avoided the costly, delayed pursuit of Marouane Fellaini, who eventually joined for £27.5m on deadline day.
Many at the club continue to believe that no manager could have extracted more from that ageing, overachieving title-winning squad than Ferguson did in his final season - but the dramatic decline that followed under Moyes might have been softened by Mourinho's demanding presence.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.