Sir Alex Ferguson reminisced about a particular game he spectated as a supporter, which reignited his longing for the managerial helm.
After concluding his illustrious tenure in 2013 with a 13th Premier League crown for Manchester United, Ferguson stepped away from the managerial scene.
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Since Ferguson’s exit, the Red Devils have been on a quest for another Premier League triumph, with Erik ten Hag being the most recent appointee tasked with restoring the club’s glory.
In the years following Ferguson’s departure, David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and Ralf Rangnick have all helmed the club, each experiencing varying degrees of success.
Ferguson, before his final bow at Old Trafford, endeavored to secure both Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale in a landmark transfer.
It was the spectacle of the 2014 Champions League finale, where Ronaldo’s Real Madrid bested Atletico Madrid in an electrifying extra-time victory, that stirred Ferguson’s nostalgia for the touchline.
He told United’s official website: “I made the decision [to retire] because of Cathy’s [his wife] sister dying and she was on her own, there was no doubt about that.
“I took Cathy to the [2014] European Cup final the next year, when Real Madrid played Atletico Madrid in Lisbon. And that’s the first time I said to myself, ‘I miss this’.
“I went down to see Ronaldo after the game, Carlo Ancelotti was the manager. He’s a fantastic guy, and he saw me waiting in the corridor. He said, ‘Cristiano’s going to the medical room to get treated, come in’.
“All the [Real Madrid] players came around and shook my hand. It was a really nice moment, you know.
“That’s probably the only time I said to myself, ‘I miss this’, a big game like that.”
Ultimately, Ferguson played a pivotal role in Ronaldo’s reunion with United during the summer of 2021. Ronaldo disclosed that it was a persuasive message from his erstwhile mentor that swayed his decision, leading him to choose United over Manchester City.
In his interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored, Ronaldo said: “I followed my heart. He [Ferguson] said to me, ‘It’s impossible for you to come to Manchester City’.
“I said, ‘OK, boss’.”
