Former Manchester United boss and coaching great Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed in a recent interview that he misses life as a football manager.
The 82-year-old last managed a club eleven years ago before he called time on his 27-year reign as Manchester United manager. He left United as the last Premier League-winning manager for the club.
Notably, Manchester United have struggled to replicate the level of success they enjoyed under their former boss.
They have failed to add to their Premier League title count since he left with cross-city rivals Manchester City now eclipsing them with unmatched success in the England championship.
Sir Alex Ferguson speaks on life after retirement from management
Speaking about his retirement from Manchester United, Ferguson told BBC Breakfast about how he has coped with life away from the dugout as Manchester United and Football Club manager.
”Good, yeah, I have been retired 11 years now, so you find a way of adjusting,” he said.
He added that he was keeping himself out of trouble. When asked if he misses life as a manager, he said: ”Yeah, I miss it sometimes.”
”I think the first year after retirement, I went to the European final, and I said to Cathy, this is what I miss, big games, the European games.”
He also admitted to attending most European finals, stating that “I find something I can relate to, something I would like to have done every day.”
The former United boss has been seen attending Champions League finals since his retirement, despite his beloved Red Devil’s not reaching that stage since that period.
However, during his reign as Manchester United manager, the club played in the Champions League final four times, winning the competition twice.
The Old Trafford fans’ favourite is a regular at the Theatre of Dreams. He always joins fans to watch United games, including away matches. He has been immortalized with a statue outside Old Trafford.
Sir Alex Ferguson recounts his biggest fear after retirement
The 82-year-old also discussed his fear of losing his memory during the interview.
Speaking about himself, Ferguson said: ”I’m 82, obviously I worry about it. Genuinely my memory is quite good, praise the lord, touch wood – I don’t know if it will stay that way.”
”But I worry about it, 100%. I would be lying if I felt I was anywhere different,” he added.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s wife’s death
Lady Cathy Ferguson was the wife of the former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Cathy and Sir Alex met in 1964 when he was just 23 years old and they married shortly after in 1966. They have three sons Mark, born in 1968, and twin boys, Peterborough manager Darren and Jason, born in 1972.
Ferguson and Cathy used to regularly attend Man United games together after Ferguson’s retirement before her passing on October 5, 2023, aged 84.
Lifting the lid on how he has coped since Cathy, who he described as his ‘bedrock’ death, Ferguson said: ”Well, 58 years is a long, long time; she was a great wife, a fantastic mother and a great grandmother.”
”She was the leader of the band, no doubt about that,” he added.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s achievement with Manchester United
Following a successful stint with Scottish Football Club Aberdeen, Ferguson was brought to Old Trafford on November 6, 1986.
He made an immediate impact at the club, lifting the team from the 21st position to 11th place on the table.
After making several huge signings like Steve Bruce, Viv Anderson, Brian McClair, and Eric Cantona and the promotion of academy talents such as Paul Scholes, David Beckham, and Ryan Giggs, he ensured Manchester United ended the century on a positive note, winning six Premier League titles, five FA cups, a Champions League title amongst several other trophies.
A treble was also among his achievements when he successfully won the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League during the 1998-99 season.
Ferguson continued enjoying success during the turn of the century, winning the Premier League for the seventh time and adding an FA Cup and Champions League trophy during his last 13 years at the club.
He called time on his 27-year spell with the Red Devils with 38 trophies and several individual accolades. Since then, United have struggled to replace the Scot with a manager who could match his successes at the club.
