Legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson the 2014 Champions League final had him reminiscing about his time in football.
The iconic Scotsman is arguably the greatest manager of all time having won two Champions League titles, 13 Premier League titles, and five FA Cup over the course of a majestic 27-year spell at Old Trafford.
He is also often credited with the most praise when it comes to the development of Cristiano Ronaldo as a player.
And it was this exchange with the Portuguese star after then Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti invited him into Los Blancos changing, which had Ferguson thinking about his time as a manager.
“I went down to see (Cristiano) Ronaldo after the game and Carlo Ancelotti was their manager, a fantastic guy,” said Ferguson.
“He saw me in the corridor and said Cristiano is going to a medical to get tested so said ‘come in’ and all the players came to shake my hand. It was a really nice moment.
“That’s probably the only time I’ve said to myself I miss this, a big game like that.”
Real overcame city rivals Atletico Madrid in a dramatic Champions League final at Lisbon’s Estadio da Luz.
Atletico appeared to had secured the big ear trophy through Diego Godin’s bundled in goal, but Sergio Ramos popped up with an imperious header in the 93rd minute to take the contest to extra-time.
Real found their mojo and an extra gear, as goals from Gareth Bale, Marcelo and a late Ronaldo penalty secured their tenth Champions League title.
It was the kind of drama Ferguson had grown accustom to during his incredible reign as manager of the Red Devils.
Clive Tyldesley’s iconic “And Solskjaer has won it” line – where current United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored the winning goal in the 1999 Champions League final – continues to reverberate around the heads of United fans and the rest of Europe,
However, when Ferguson was asked if he would still have what it takes to bring success to United once more, the Scotsman was instant in his response, citing his love and loyalty to his family is more important than management.
No. There’s moments if you’re vain enough to think that way,” he said when asked if he would still be a good manager today.
“I made my decision because of Cathy’s sister dying and she was on her own, there was no doubt about that.
“I took Cathy to the European Cup final the next year when Real (Madrid) played Atletico (Madrid) in Lisbon and that was the first time I said to myself ‘God, I miss this’.”
Ferguson is now a regular at Old Trafford, where he is able to watch his former prodigy Ronaldo star for the Reds.
Ronaldo has scored four goals in his first four appearances since sealing an incredible return to United from Juventus.
Solskjaer’s side have however suffered a set-back after losing 1-0 at home to Aston Villa.
It was their third loss in four matches, having lost in the Champions League to Young Boys and to West Ham United in the League Cup, before the defeat to Dean Smith’s side.