Scots job would not tempt Fergie after United despite Aragones success
Sir Alex Ferguson has ruled out ever becoming Scotland manager again, revealing that when he completes his Manchester United tenure he will be ready for retirement.
The Old Trafford overlord turns 67 during the coming season and has already hinted that he only sees himself carrying on for another two or three years.
But, even though German veteran Otto Rehhagel and now 69-year-old Luis Aragones have won the European Championships with Greece and Spain respectively, Fergie doesn't fancy another crack at the Scotland job after leading us to the 1986 World Cup in Mexico while still Aberdeen boss.
Scotland managers past and present: Ferguson, Smith and Burley at yesterday¿s charity golf outing at Loch Lomond
'I won't be Scotland manager again now,' said Ferguson at Loch Lomondside yesterday. 'No. Do you know what age I am? When I finish with United, that will be it and time to take a rest.'
Current Scotland boss George Burley, a fellow competitor at the Great Scots charity golf event over the Carrick Course at Loch Lomond, is counting down to the August 20 friendly with Northern Ireland at Hampden that marks his last preparation for September World Cup qualifiers in Macedonia and Iceland.
Burley thanked the SPL for making sure their fixture list didn't throw up Old Firm games around international dates and, after 15 calloffs for friendlies with Croatia and the Czech Republic, he wants maximum commitment from players and co-operation from clubs.
'We've had some help from the SPL and that's great because the nucleus of the squad are from the Old Firm - there's no getting away from that,' said Burley.
'If there is an international game around a Rangers versus-Celtic match then, naturally, it's more difficult. We don't have that to contend with now, which could be important.
'I'm looking forward to the pre-season games. I'll go around looking at players because that's important.
'We have the Northern Ireland game on August 20 and it's a new beginning. We've had two games, which was great. The attitude was terrific, but we've got to keep improving.
'Hopefully, when we face Northern Ireland 99 per cent of the players will be fit and raring to go. That's our last friendly before Macedonia and Iceland, so it is vitally important to me.'
