- Ferguson’s managerial career came to an end at Manchester United in 2013.
- The iconic United manager has given his first extensive interview in years
- LISTEN NOW: It’s all just beginning! Available wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Monday and Thursday
Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed he misses life as a football manager, in his first extensive interview in years.
The iconic manager, 82, retired from coaching at the end of the 2012-13 season after leading Manchester United to their 13th Premier League title in his 27th year at the club.
United have struggled for success since his departure, with Manchester City leading the way for much of the past decade.
In his first major interview in years, Ferguson spoke to BBC Breakfast about life after retirement.
Asked what life is like, he replied: ‘Well, yes, I’ve been retired for 11 years, so you have to find a way to adapt.
Manchester United icon Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted he misses life as a manager
Ferguson retired after winning his 13th Premier League title in the 2012–13 season.
Ferguson still attends Manchester United games and has also been seen at several European finals and admitted the latter are “games he can relate to”.
Ferguson said he was staying out of trouble, and when asked if he missed life as a manager, he said: “Yes, I do sometimes.”
‘I think the first year after I retired, I went to the European final and I said to Cathy ‘this is what I miss’: the big matches, the European matches.
‘So I went to most of the European finals because I found something I could relate to, something I would have liked to do every day.
“Because these are the big events that United should always be involved in.”
Ferguson has been a presence in Champions League finals for the past decade despite the Red Devils failing to reach that stage of the competition in that time.
During his tenure as manager at Old Trafford, United won the Champions League as part of their iconic Treble in 1999 and again in 2008.
United also reached the finals in 2009 and 2011, but lost on both occasions to Pep Guardiola’s legendary Barcelona.
Ferguson remains a regular at Manchester United games, both home and away, and has had a stand named after him at Old Trafford since 2011.
He also has a statue outside the stadium that was unveiled by his late wife Cathy.
Cathy, whom Sir Alex described as his “rock star”, died aged 84 last October.
Sir Alex suffered a brain haemorrhage in 2018, after which he underwent successful emergency surgery at Salford Royal Hospital.
Ferguson also spoke to BBC Breakfast as part of National Playlist Day, which is used to celebrate the power of personalised music playlists for those living with dementia.
Speaking about himself, he said: ‘Fortunately my memory is quite good, pray to the Lord and touch wood that it remains that way.’
She added: “I read a lot, I take tests and I think that helps. There are tests on YouTube with 100 questions and if I don’t get 70 percent, I struggle.”
More news to come later…
