Sir Alex Ferguson, the iconic former manager of Manchester United, recently gave his first extended interview in years.
At 82, he sat down with the BBC Breakfast and reflected on his illustrious career, and life after retirement.
Ferguson's managerial career at Man United came to an end back in 2013, after he had led the team to their 13th Premier League title. This marked the culmination of his 27-year tenure at the club.
Despite retiring nearly a decade ago, Ferguson's influence is still felt within football circles. He remains an iconic figure for Manchester United fans and continues to attend games regularly.
In his recent interview with BBC Breakfast, Ferguson spoke candidly about adjusting to life post-retirement. When asked how he was doing, he responded positively but admitted that he sometimes misses life as a manager.
The first year after retirement was particularly poignant for him as attending European finals made him realize what he missed most - big games and European nights.
These were events that resonated with him deeply and reminded him of what Manchester United should always be involved in.
Despite not reaching a Champions League final since Ferguson's departure, the Red Devils' legacy lives on through their past successes under his leadership.
During his reign as manager at Old Trafford, United won the Champions League twice - once as part of their iconic Treble in 1999 and again in 2008.
Ferguson also led them to finals in both 2009 and 2011 but lost out each time to Pep Guardiola's legendary Barcelona side.
His contributions have been immortalized with a stand named after him since 2011 at Old Trafford along with a statue outside the stadium unveiled by his late wife Cathy, who passed away last October aged 84.
In 2018, Sir Alex suffered a brain haemorrhage and underwent successful emergency surgery at Salford Royal Hospital. Despite this health scare, he remains optimistic about his memory retention.
He credits reading and doing quizzes as activities that help keep his mind sharp. He particularly enjoys YouTube quizzes, aiming to score at least 70% on each one.
Since Ferguson's departure, Manchester United has struggled to find a suitable replacement. David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick have all come and gone without replicating the Scot's success.
The current manager Erik ten Hag is under pressure despite an FA Cup final win over Manchester City at the end of last season. New owners Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS are eager to restore United to their glory days under Ferguson's reign.
Sir Alex Ferguson remains one of the most revered figures in football history. His recent interview offers an insightful look into his life post-retirement while reminding fans of the indelible mark he left on Manchester United during his tenure.
