Alex Ferguson said he would have definitely carried on as Manchester United manager if it was not for the death of his wife s sister.
Ferguson called time on his tenure in 2013 after winning 38 trophies in 26 glorious years at Old Trafford.
The 73-year-old s retirement, despite is age, surprised many and the Scot said he had no plans to retire but he wanted to be by wife Cathy s side following the death of her twin sister Bridget Robertson three years ago.
I definitely would have carried on, Ferguson told the Telegraph.
I saw she [Cathy Ferguson] w
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as watching television one night, and she looked up at the ceiling. I knew she was isolated. Her and Bridget were twins, you know?
But when I told her this time I was going to retire she had no objection whatsoever. I knew she wanted me to do it.
David Moyes was swiftly appointed as Ferguson s replacement in May 2013 but his countryman s reign was short-lived, sacked less than a year into a six-year deal after overseeing United s worst ever Premier League season.
There were suggestions Moyes since replaced by Louis van Gaal was left with a declining squad, who had claimed a 20th Premier League title the season prior with Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra and Robin van Persie on board, but Ferguson strongly disagreed.
Ferguson added: Even when I knew I was retiring we still tried to put some things in place, with players coming in.
Like everything I say about Manchester United, the bus was still moving forward. No one was getting left behind. Everyone was optimistic about where we were going.
