Sir Alex Ferguson was offered – and turned down – the chance to manage Scotland for a second time, The Guardian reveals today. The Scottish Football Association (SFA) offered Ferguson the role after previous incumbent Alex McLeish vacated the post for a job at Birmingham City, according to the report. George Burley was eventually appointed Scotland manager in January 2009 but not before the SFA had attempted to lure the United boss to the post with an offer of a part-time role.
Ferguson previously held the post in 1986 after the untimely death of Jock Stein, working closely with his then assistant manager at Aberdeen, Archie Knox. Famously Ferguson left Liverpool centre-back Alan Hansen out of the squad that went to the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. It’s a grudge that the BBC pundit has seemingly held to this day.
But Ferguson, a proud Scotsman who has turned down the chance to manage England no less then three times, has no interest in returning to international football, even in a part-time capacity.
With Scotland, captained by United midfielder Darren Fletcher, likely to be knocked out of the World Cup qualification in the next week Burley is expected to be sacked.
Ferguson is unlikely to be on the shortlist this time.