The Scotsman ended his tenure at Old Trafford after a glorious 27 years in charge back in 2013 but confessed that there are times when he misses being in the dugout - particularly during the biggest matches.

In an interview with BBC Breakfast, Ferguson said: "Yeah, I miss it sometimes. 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."

Meanwhile, Ferguson explained that he is worried about losing his memory to dementia after seeing friends such as the late Sir Bobby Charlton afflicted with the disease.

The former United boss - who suffered a brain haemorrhage in 2015 - said: "I'm 82, obviously I worry about it.

"Genuinely my memory is quite good, praise the lord, touch wood - I don't know if it will stay that way.

"But I worry about it, 100 per cent.

"I would be lying if I felt I was anywhere different.

"I read a lot, I do quizzes a lot and I think that helps. You have those YouTube quizzes, 100 questions, and I think to myself if I don't get to 70 per cent I'm struggling."

Asked if football is doing enough to help former players affected by the disease, he said: "I don't know where we [football] are at the moment. I know there is an interest, and a care about it, because we don't want to see it.

"Bobby was very close to me and a wonderful man, an absolutely superb human."