Fergie weighed up working abroad February 28 2008
Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted he considered working abroad but the magnetic appeal of Manchester United proved too strong.
The Red Devils boss was speaking ahead of the Premier League match against Fulham on Saturday when the Scot pits his wits against Roy Hodgson, whose coaching CV reads like a travel brochure.
While Ferguson has ruled over United for the past 21 years, his managerial counterpart in that time has covered all corners of the globe in pursuit of his craft.
Hodgson is now hoping to put that vast experience to good use and prevent the second-bottom Cottagers being relegated.
His work ethic certainly impresses Ferguson, who told the League Managers' website: "Roy Hodgson has done what a lot of us would love to have done and work abroad.
"I always remember Bobby Robson saying that the best thing he ever did was go to PSV, Sporting Lisbon, Porto and Barcelona.
"He was out of the country for maybe 10 or 12 years. Working in different climates with different cultures definitely broadens your education.
"I remember meeting Roy Hodgson in Malmo in 1987 when I had just joined Manchester United. Malmo were playing Ajax in the European Cup.
"Over the years he has gone to Inter Milan, Switzerland, Finland, Udinese, Blackburn etc... it's incredible all the teams that he has managed. You can see when he's interviewed he knows what he is talking about.
"Sometimes I used to say to myself 'I'd love to have tried managing abroad sometime' but then it was difficult for me.
"My choices were cut off simply because I was the manager of Manchester United which is amazing and you don't leave Manchester United."