The iconic manager has admitted he missed management after watching a UEFA Champions League match

Ferguson is the most successful manager in Premier League history; winning two European Cups, 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups, four League Cups, the European Cup Winners’ Cup, the European Super Cup, the Intercontinental Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup amounting to 38 in total.

The Scot left Manchester United in 2013 after securing a 20th League triumph for the Red Devils.

He was succeeded by David Moyes who was unsuccessful despite being targeted by Ferguson himself. United have not tasted League success since his departure and currently sit sixth in the Premier League.

When speaking on the Manchester United Podcast, he said: “No, there’s moments if you’re vain enough to think that way,” he told the Manchester United podcast when asked if he ever thought about returning.

“But I made the decision 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’.”

He then mentioned Cristiano Ronaldo, a player he developed before the Portuguese departed for Madrid in 2009: “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.

Ferguson was no stranger to European glory himself, he won two UEFA Champions Leagues and reached the final four times, only to be defeated by Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona side made up of Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta on two occasions.