Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted he misses football, with the Manchester United icon opening up on his retirement in an interview with the BBC.
The Scot established himself as a legend at Old Trafford, guiding the club to 13 Premier League titles during his spell in charge.
Ferguson opted to retire 11 years ago, with the football icon walking off into the sunset after guiding the Red Devils to their last league title.
Now, speaking to the BBC, the 82-year-old has admitted he sometimes misses football.
Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted he misses football, with the Manchester United icon opening up on his retirement in an interview with the BBC
BBC
He also admits that, after attending the Champions League final in 2014 with his late wife, Cathy, that he pined for it.
“Yeah, I miss it sometimes,” he revealed.
“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.
“So then I went to most of the European finals because I find something I can relate to, something I would liked to have done every day.
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“Because these are the big events that United should always be involved in.”
Ferguson won two Champions League titles at United, in addition to the 13 league crowns.
The first was achieved back in 1999, with the Red Devils famously beating Bayern Munich in dramatic circumstances to become champions of Europe.
And the second was in 2008, with United beating Chelsea on penalties after a 1-1 draw – with John Terry and Nicolas Anelka missing for the Blues.
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Had it not been for Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona, United would have likely won two more Champions Leagues.
They lost to the Catalan giants in 2009, with Samuel Eto’o and Lionel Messi netting for Pep Guardiola’s side that year.
And Barcelona then cruised to a 3-1 win over United at Wembley in 2011, with Messi scoring either side of goals from Pedro and David Villa.
Ferguson was speaking to the BBC as part of National Playlist Day, which is used to celebrate the power of a personalised music playlist for those living with dementia.
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Sir Alex Ferguson won 13 Premier League titles during his time at Man Utd
PA
He said his own memory is ‘quite good’ and also shed light on how he keeps himself busy.
“I have been retired 11 years now so you find a way of adjusting,” he added.
“Fortunately my memory is quite good, pray the lord and touch wood it will stay that way.’
“I read a lot, I do quizzes, and I think that helps, there is the YouTube quizzes with 100 questions and if I don’t get 70 per cent I’m struggling.”
Sir Alex Ferguson is enjoying his retirement 11 years on from his decision to retire at Man Utd manager
PA
Even now, 11 years on, United have struggled to replace Ferguson.
The fallen giants have won just five trophies since his exit, with Erik ten Hag the fifth permanent manager the club have appointed after previous stints for David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.