The Shocking Manchester United Alternate History That Could Have Changed Everything

It was perhaps the first sign of things to come: failure for Manchester United, frustration for Jose Mourinho. And this was way before the Portuguese actually went to the club. That febrile period from 2016 to 2018 is obviously going to be brought up a lot as Mourinho’s Fenerbahce take on his old club on Thursday, but of more interest is perhaps what happened in May 2013. And, what might have happened.

As the news of Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement broke, Manchester United’s board knew they had to find his replacement. Among the top contenders was Jose Mourinho, who had just won the La Liga with Real Madrid. It seemed like the perfect opportunity for him to take over the Red Devils, considering that the English Premier League was proving to be more challenging, with Pep Guardiola expected to join Manchester City soon. However, after months-long negotiations, Manchester United unexpectedly turned to David Moyes, Everton’s former manager, citing his managerial skills as an excellent match for the team.

Fast-forward nine years, Manchester United find themselves in an unfavorable scenario that has been the same for years: inconsistent form, poor team chemistry, and a dull playing style. The difference in team dynamics after what has looked like an uncertain tenure can largely be attributed to the lack of managerial expertise. While it might seem intriguing to guess what would have occurred if David Moyes was named manager nine years earlier than Fergie left, there is one question that keeps echoing in the heads of several Premier League fans.

What would have happened if Jose Mourinho was chosen to manage Manchester United following Sir Alex Ferguson's departure? Given this possible choice is challenging and seems inconceivable, some interesting facts may make this inquiry rather stimulating for everyone in the Manchester United fandom.

Mourinho’s long and highly prestigious managerial career started three decades ago in Portugal. As Sporting CP’s manager, his success in 2000 has gone down in the record books. In this brief coaching experience, which lasted for only nine days, Mourinho led the squad to three wins, their only three in the entire season. Ever since that remarkable instance, clubs from many countries, including England, discovered him.

There are a few things Red Devils could benefit from if Jose Mourinho had accepted the managerial job in 2013. First of all, there's experience. In his 9 years in management by then, he has won ten honors. During the same period, the great coach managed Porto and Inter Milan. As a result, by choosing José Mourinho, Red Devils would have been able to retain the league championships due to Mourinho’s brilliant winning pattern.

Second, it's the teams' performances against main rivals Liverpool and Manchester City. The most dramatic instance was the loss of Manchester United title to rivals Manchester City in 2012 due to a worse goal difference after accumulating 89 points. José Mourinho may have affected the scoreline because of his rival records. For the other rivalry, It is known that Jose is excellent in making his teams play effectively against powerful rivals.

Third, José Mourinho is magnificent when it comes to his spending power. It has always been believed that he has an excellent eye for talented players. By including Robin Van Persie in his signing lists in his first and only transfer as Manchester United manager and scoring goals like Nemanja Vidic or Patrice Evra, he ensured that they sustained their excellent standards in goal-scoring by even leaving David Moyes his desired and high-quality defensive setup at Old Trafford.

Despite the various characteristics Red Devils could have gained from choosing José Mourinho in 2013, it can be pointed out that in most instances, his influence at Manchester United lasted only briefly. However, since the early adoption of José Mourinho could have continued beyond December 2018, this has left every English football lover thinking, even if Sir Alex Ferguson’s legacy didn't continue under José Mourinho at Manchester United, a different story for the team could have been realized.