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18th October 2024
05:35pm BST
Alex Ferguson has revealed the three English clubs he turned down the opportunity to manage before he became Manchester United manager in 1986.
Speaking to Ally McCoist during an interview for TNT Sports, the 82-year-old reflected on his incredible 1983 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup win with Aberdeen, and his retirement in 2013 and opened up about the different paths his career could have taken.
When asked by McCoist which Premier League teams he could have ended up managing, Fergie replied:
"I turned down Arsenal and I turned down Wolverhampton Wanderers and I turned down Tottenham.
"I said [to Aberdeen chairman Dick Donald] that maybe it was time for me to leave, blah, blah, blah, and he said to me “don’t talk like that”.
"You should go only to one club – Manchester United," he added. "I never budged until that came long. When it came along, I couldn’t get there quick enough.
"I have to say there was a lot of trepidation about it. Travelling down that morning, in the plane with Martin Edwards and the lawyer Maurice Watkins, I was asking a lot of questions and I wasn’t getting all the answers.
He continued: "Wee Gordon Strachan used to phone me quite a lot and I didn’t get a great picture through that. I knew all the players, world-class names in many ways. I was determined to install something I did at Aberdeen and St Mirren, and that was to produce young players."
Twenty-six years on from when he signed on the dotted line as Manchester United manager, Sir Alex retired from management after giving the club it's most successful period in history.
When asked by McCoist what the reason was behind the decision to close the door on his managerial career, Sir Alex answered: "Cathy's sister had died in the previous October and she was lost. She was definitely lost so at Christmas I said to her 'Look, I'm going to retire at the end of the season'. I knew by her reaction that she was delighted because she was on her own. She had given her life to me, everything to me.
He continued:"[She was] looking after me because of my job… bringing the kids up. When I said I was going to retire, she was delighted and I knew that. I could tell by her body language."
Ferguson would continue working with the club as a global ambassador and club director for another 11 years. However, his time as a Manchester United employee will conclude at the end of the season.
The Athletic reported that a face-to-face meeting had taken place between minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ferguson.
The pair reportedly came to an amicable resolution, with the club cutting his salary, but allowing the Scot to attend games whenever he pleases.
Previously, when the Glazers had sporting control, they kept Ferguson as a paid ambassador with sources familiar with Joel and Avram Glazer claiming they likely believed much of the value that the club continues to generate is owed to Ferguson’s work and legacy.
Sources close to Ferguson say that the legend has been saddened by the redundancy of many former colleagues and close friends at Old Trafford in the wake of widespread job cuts.
Ratcliffe hopes to save £40million to £45million per year through these cost cuts.
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