Time Line

February 2004 Jose Mourinho's Porto recover to beat United 2-1 in the clubs' Champions League round-of-16 first leg. Sir Alex Ferguson, though, furiously confronts the young coach at full-time over Roy Keane's sending off and Porto's playacting, particularly goalkeeper Vitor Baia's. "I understand why he is a bit emotional," Mourinho says. "You would be sad if your team gets as clearly dominated by opponents who have been built on 10% of the budget."

March 2004 United are minutes away from qualifying for the quarter-finals on the away goals rule. Then, in one of football's most seismic moments in the 21st century, Tim Howard fumbles Benni McCarthy's free-kick and Costinha equalises on the night to put Porto ahead in the tie. Mourinho hares down the touchline in celebration and is equally animated at full-time, as Porto go through 3-2 on aggregate. Porto go on to win the Champions League.

August 2004 Mourinho's first game as Chelsea manager comes against United. Eidur Gudjohnsen scores the decisive goal against a depleted United side, but Mourinho shows his appreciation for The Reds' travelling support, who abuse him behind the dugout.

January 2005 Chelsea and United draw 0-0 in their League Cup semi-final first leg. Mourinho alleges that Ferguson influenced referee Neale Barry. "I see one referee in the first half and another in the second," Mourinho says.

January 2005 Despite the claim, Mourinho reveals how he and Ferguson bonded after the game. "After the game on Wednesday we were together in my office and we spoke and drank wine," Mourinho explains. "Unfortunately it was a very bad bottle of wine and he was complaining, so when we go to Old Trafford for the second leg, on my birthday, I will take a beautiful bottle of Portuguese wine."

January 2005 Chelsea survive a late United rally to win 2-1 at Old Trafford to book their League Cup final place at Wembley.

May 2005 Mourinho makes it four wins from five against United, as Chelsea win 3-1 at Old Trafford to bring an ignominious end to The Reds' home campaign. The win puts champions Chelsea on 94 points - two more than Ferguson's great 1993-94 side. "It is the perfect way to do it - at a great stadium against a team who in Sir Alex Ferguson have a manager who leads by example in success and fair play," Mourinho beams. "Twenty points does not show the difference between both teams because Manchester United also have great players." Mourinho adds that he nicknames Ferguson 'Boss'.

May 2005 Mourinho confirms to Gary Lineker in a BBC interview he hopes United beat Arsenal in the FA Cup final. "I like Sir Alex very much, he's a person to have a fight with you... he's a very correct person."

November 2005 Darren Fletcher's header ends Chelsea's 40-match Premier League unbeaten run to mark Mourinho's first loss against United. "United were not the best team on the pitch," Mourinho says.

May 2006 Chelsea hammer United 3-0 to clinch their second successive title. Mourinho shakes Ferguson and his assistants hands before the final whistle. "The result perhaps does not reflect how well Manchester United played," Mourinho summarises. "They really made it tough for us and were fantastic with their attacking movement. "But we overcame it to confirm our position as Premiership champions."

November 2006 United, top of the Premier League for all but two weeks of the season, are denied victory by Ricardo Carvalho in a 1-1 draw. "United lost a big, big chance to open up six-point lead," Mourinho brags. "We're not top like we want to be but three points is just one weekend. It's a better result for us than them. "If I was in their place I would be very disappointed. We showed our power in the second half and that we are not sleeping."

April 2007 Mourinho accuses Ronaldo of a lack of education after the United No.7 rejects claims referees favoured United. "Maybe it's about a difficult childhood, no education," Mourinho sneers. Ferguson defends his player. "It is really below the belt to bring class into it," the Scot says. "I don't know why he has done this. Maybe he is trying to unsettle the boy." Mourinho apologises to Ronaldo.

May 2007 Chelsea give newly crowned champions United, whose team includes Dong Fangzhuo, Kieran Lee and Chris Eagles, a guard of honour. Mourinho, looking unkempt, clashes with referee Graham Poll. "Graham Poll had a normal performance when he is refereeing a Chelsea match," he deadpans.

May 2007 Chelsea beat United in one of the most tedious FA Cup finals in living memory. "As I said to the players at the beginning of the week, 'Do you want to enjoy the game or do you want to enjoy after the game?'" Mourinho reveals.

August 2007 United beat Chelsea 3-0 on penalties in the Community Shield. Mourinho is sacked the following month.

February 2009 Mourinho begins to flirt with United, allowing MUTV presenter Hayley McQueen to interview him in Milan while he is Internazionale manager ahead of their Champions League tie against United. McQueen asks Mourinho if he would fancy the United job after Ferguson leaves. "I'd have to wait 20 more years." Asked if he's prepared to wait that long, he replies: "No problem."

February 2009 Mourinho sees Inter outplayed by United at San Siro in the Champions League round-of-16, however they manage to grind out a 0-0 draw. "It's a result that the team who plays at home in the second leg is happy with because they know if they win at home they are in the quarter-finals," he says.

March 2009 Five years on from losing to a Mourinho side at the same stage, United beat Inter 2-0 to qualify for the quarter-finals. "Right now United are at their maximum level," Mourinho shrugs. "They have experience, quality, great physical condition and intensity in their game. "That's why they're European champions. That is why they can win everything. I think they can win five trophies."

2010 Mourinho's audition continues as he grants journalist Patrick Barclay an interview for his upcoming Ferguson biography at Inter's Angelo Moratti Sports Centre. During the interview, Mourinho receives an angry phone call from Ferguson warning him about Barclay. Mourinho requests chunks of the content are not used.

December 2012 Sir Bobby Charlton questions Mourinho's suitability to manage United. "A United manager wouldn't do that," Charlton says of Mourinho gouging the eye of former Barcelona assistant Tito Vilanova. "Mourinho is a really good coach but that's as far as I would go really. "He pontificates too much for my liking. He's a good manager, though." When told that Ferguson admires Mourinho, Charlton shoots back: "He doesn't like him too much, though."

February 2013 Mourinho continues to pitch for the United job by travelling to United's home wins against Liverpool and Everton, granting MUTV an exclusive interview ahead of United's Champions League round-of-16 tie against his Real Madrid side. “I want to win and he wants to win. But I believe the loser, in the middle of being a bit sad, will have a little bit of space to feel a little bit happy because their friend has won,” Mourinho says. Weeks later at the Bernabeu, MUTV co-commentator Paddy Crerand enjoys a sit down with Mourinho. Mourinho plays down talk of him succeeding Ferguson.

February 2013 United and Real play out an enthralling 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu. "Everything is open for the second leg and I think this will go to the last minute," Mourinho predicts. "If you ask me for a percentage, it's 50/50. We can score more than one goal over there [at Old Trafford]."

March 2013 Real recover from a goal down to beat United 2-1 in controversial circumstances, as Nani is sent off harshly by referee Cunyet Cakir. Mourinho consoles Nani and looks visibly vexed at full-time, despite the victory. "Independent of the decision, the best team lost. We didn't deserve to win but football is like this," Mourinho says.

May 2013 Mourinho is overlooked for the United job in favour of David Moyes, despite a frantic 11th hour attempt from his agent, Jorge Mendes, to persuade United to do a U-turn. Mourinho reportedly cries upon hearing the knows and, according to journalist Diego Torres, says of Moyes: "But he's won nothing."

July 2013 Now Chelsea manager, Mourinho sees two bids for United striker Wayne Rooney rejected. "We want the player. Now it's up to Manchester United," Mourinho reveals.

August 2013 Mourinho returns to Old Trafford with Chelsea on the second matchweek of the season. His team line up without a striker and the game ends 0-0.

January 2014 Having jumped into the crowd against City and orchestrated the cheerleading against Liverpool, Mourinho is subdued in Chelsea's 3-1 victory over United. "Maybe if I say [United are out of title contention], some people from United would ask: 'Who am I to say that?'" Mourinho diplomatically opines.

October 2014 Mourinho strides out of Old Trafford for the last time as Chelsea manager, as Robin van Persie's stoppage-time goal denies the champions-elect victory. "Old Trafford is one of the most dangerous fixtures we have. The result is not the result we want, but the way we performed means we don't need to look to others," he says.

April 2015 Chelsea narrowly beat United 1-0, despite having less than 30 per cent of the possession, weeks before going on to win their first title in five years. "The game was exactly the game we wanted," Mourinho reveals.

October 2015 Mourinho contributes to Nick Robinson's BBC documentary on Ferguson and insists he did not want to manage United in 2013. "He told me a huge secret, not many people knew, like, one month or two months before, the decision to be.... to be made to stop [retire]," Mourinho says. "I know that he trust me, because if he doesn't, he doesn't tell me but I was scared. I was scared so when finally he informed the media about this decision it was a sense of relief."

December 2015 Following his second Chelsea sacking weeks earlier, Mourinho United scarves go on sale outside Old Trafford as pressure on Louis van Gaal mounts.

2015-16 Having overlooked Mourinho in 2013, United hold talks with his representatives about succeeding Louis van Gaal.

February 2016 United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward sends scouts to watch Jorge Mendes-repped Renato Sanches, hinting at the likelihood Mourinho will become United manager.

February 2016 Mourinho tells confidants he is convinced of becoming United manager unless the club qualifies for the Champions League.

February 2016 Woodward contacts Mendes in panic the day after Midtjylland beat United in the Europa League.

February 2016 Mourinho feels he has a 'gentleman's agreement' to become United manager.

March 2016 Despite support for assistant manager Ryan Giggs, Mourinho remains confident of seeing his rival off and becoming United manager.

April 2016 After United enjoy a good spell of form, Mendes contacts Woodward for assurances on Mourinho.

April 2016 Despite widespread reports to the contrary, Mourinho does not hold talks with PSG.

May 2016 Woodward meets Mourinho days before the FA Cup final, intent on appointing the Portuguese.