Jose Mourinho agreed to take charge at Liverpool in 2004 before Chelsea hijacked the deal to poach the Champions League-winning manager instead, a new book has claimed.
The renowned 57-year-old reportedly agreed to join the Anfield outfit and replace Gerard Houllier, but Roman Abramovich swooped in with a higher offer and convinced Mourinho to move to west London.
A new book, 'Mourinho: Behind the Special One, from the origin to the glory,' written by French journalist Nicolas Vilas, chronicles the tussle between two of the Premier League's biggest clubs to snap up the divisive tactician.