Manchester United and Aberdeen legend Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted that he was on the radar for two elite clubs during his illustrious managerial career.
Sir Alex Ferguson created a remarkable impact in both Scotland and England during his respective legendary spells at Aberdeen and Manchester United.
The 82-year-old enjoyed incredible silverware success at Aberdeen, including lifting three Scottish Premier Division titles, four Scottish Cups and a Scottish League Cup.
Ferguson’s crowning achievement at the Pittodrie came with Aberdeen’s sensational 1983 European Cup Winners’ Cup final win over La Liga outfit Real Madrid.
The former Aberdeen head coach left the Scottish club and arrived at Old Trafford in 1986 and replaced Ron Atkinson as United manager.
Ferguson overcame a tough start to life in England as United head coach before he ushered in a period of dominance over English football in the 1990s and 2000s.
During his illustrious reign at Old Trafford, the iconic Scotsman lifted 13 Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues, five FA Cups and four League Cups.
Ferguson, who led United to a historic treble win in 1999, bowed out of Old Trafford as Red Devils manager in 2013 after lifting the club’s last Premier League title.
Ferguson revealed ‘talks’ with one club
Speaking in his 1993 book ‘Just Champion!,’ Sir Alex Ferguson claimed that Barcelona were interested in him amid uncertainty around Terry Venables at the time.
Terry Venables, who passed away in 2023 at the age of 80, left Queens Park Rangers as head coach in 1984 and subsequently became manager of Barcelona.
Ferguson revealed that former England and Tottenham manager Venables was the one who “approached” him about the offer in the “first place.”
However, Venables remained at Barcelona after a “change of mind” and the former QPR boss was eventually axed from the Camp Nou in 1987.
“I was once invited for talks with Barcelona in London when they believed Terry Venables was set to pack his bags,” Ferguson wrote in his book, as per The Times in 2013.
“It was Terry who approached me with the job offer in the first place, but eventually he had a change of mind and decided to stay in Spain for a little longer.”
Man Utd legend Ferguson on second team’s interest
Fast-forward from Barcelona’s interest and Ferguson claimed that the Spanish club’s fierce rivals Real Madrid were “interested” in him during the 1990s.
Ferguson has had a history with Madrid thanks to his time at Aberdeen and the former United manager suggested that a “feeler” was put out for him.
The legendary Scot insisted that he had “no wish to leave Old Trafford” for a team abroad, despite the suspected interest from Madrid and the “offer” from Barcelona.
“Ironically, after we beat Johan Cruyff’s Barcelona in the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1991, I was tapped again,” United added.
“This time, it was Real Madrid who were reputedly interested in taking me on board. That feeler was made by an agent.
“All I can say is that I always knew the Barcelona offer was genuine because it was Terry who spoke to me. With others, you just never know.
“But it’s no longer an issue because I have no wish to leave Old Trafford for any coaching or management appointment in foreign football.
“When you are in charge at United, the temptation is no longer there.”
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
