Having led Man United to 13 league trophies during his 26-year tenure as manager, Ferguson, now 83, is considered by many to be the best Premier League manager of all time.
As his team won the title in 2013, the Scot announced his retirement from managing in classic Ferguson way.
He had no idea that United would not win a single Premier League or Champions League title in the twelve years after his departure.
The Red Devils have only won five major trophies since Ferguson’s departure: two FA Cups (2016, 2024), two League Cups (2017, 2023), and one Europa League (2017). They also had their poorest Premier League finish in 2024–2025, placing 15th in the English top division. A loss to Spurs in the May Europa League final added to their suffering.
After United lost to League Two Grimsby on penalties in the second round of the Carabao Cup and failed to defeat Arsenal and Fulham in their first two Premier League games, current head coach Ruben Amorim has been under increasing criticism this season.
When United defeated Burnley 3-2 at Old Trafford last Saturday thanks to a late penalty from Bruno Fernandes, Amorim, 40, finally witnessed his team record three points.
There are still concerns about Amorim’s long-term prospects, even though United hasn’t won the league since Ferguson left as manager.
Since 2013, several managers have attempted and failed to restore the team to its previous glory, including David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick, and Erik ten Hag.
What has Ferguson said about his improbable comeback to the dugout, then?
Well, Ferguson was in the technical area for a charity match earlier this year for former United, Fiorentina and Villarreal striker Giuseppe Rossi in Florence.
However, unfortunately for United fans, the chances of a return to management are highly unlikely.
In 2013, Ferguson said: “I’m not interested in managing again, getting myself worked up.
“United are in good hands. David [Moyes] will be fine. He’s a good manager.”
Fast forward 11 years, and the Scot discussed what he missed most following his retirement.
“Yeah, I miss it sometimes,” he told BBC Sport. “I think the first year after retirement, I went to the European final and I said to [his late wife] 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. Because these are the big events that United should always be involved in.”
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