Ferguson reveals his biggest regret as United boss

Matt Stead

Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that not leading Manchester United out in the 2002 Champions League final as Glasgow is his biggest regret as manager.

Ferguson broke records and egos during his time as United boss, before breaking hearts by retiring as boss in 2013.

The Scot was appointed in 1986, and won 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups and a number of other titles during his historic 26-and-a-half-year reign.

He also won two Champions Leagues as manager, but missed out with defeat in the 2011 final to Barcelona.

Speaking at the unveiling of Glasgow’s logo for Euro 2020, Ferguson revealed that his biggest regret was not reaching the showpiece in 2002, which has hosted in the Scottish city – his hometown.

“The one I really regret was not taking Manchester United to the final in 2002,” he said. “The whole build up was about getting to the final in Glasgow, but we lost the semi-final to Leverkusen.

“We were a bit unlucky – we ran out of time,” he joked, with a reference to the famous ‘Fergie time’. “The referee couldn’t understand my time and his time!”

“In the build up to the final at Hampden, I was told to go up to Glasgow and check out hotels,” he said. “So I went up and checked out hotels that would have been ideal for us. I was driving back from Glasgow and I said: ‘I don’t like it, why have I done this?’ And then we lost the semi-final, but that’s life.”