Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted he has regrets over not dining with Pep Guardiola a few months earlier, when he believes he could have persuaded the Spaniard to succeed him as Manchester United manager.
Ferguson makes the admission in his new memoir 'Games of My Life' published by Macmillan on October 8 and co-written with Sir Michael Moritz. He reflects on his storied managerial career and makes several revelations including a missed opportunity with Guardiola.
'I Would Have Tried' - Ferguson Wanted Guardiola to Replace Him
Ferguson wrote that he has often wondered over the past decade what might have happened if the dinner had taken place earlier. He said the timing was crucial:
"At the time, I hadn't decided for certain that I was going to retire," Ferguson says, adding that Guardiola was already determined to try the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich.
Ferguson added that Guardiola reached that decision after his successful four-year spell at Barcelona, where he won a continental treble as well as a league and Champions League double. Ferguson says he would have tried to persuade Guardiola to move to Manchester if they had met earlier.
"I would have tried my hardest to convince him that his future lay in Manchester," he writes.
Ferguson says he would have served Tignanello, an Italian wine. He ends by acknowledging that Guardiola chose Bayern Munich: "Unfortunately for us, it did. Enough said."
Ferguson also praises Guardiola's career, writing that he set "a breathtaking standard" for managers after taking over Barcelona at 37. He says Guardiola is a leading example of a former player moving into management at a young age.
But he warns that others who follow the same path without enough preparation can struggle.
Ferguson decided to retire in December 2012 after the death of his wife's sister and announced his decision on 8 May 2013. The following day, he named Moyes his successor on a six-year contract, but dismissed him less than a year later.
How Ferguson's Account Compares With Guardiola's Version
The dinner was first detailed in Ferguson’s 2015 book Leading. He wrote that "retirement was not on my agenda at that point", so he could not make Guardiola a direct proposal about succeeding him at United.
Ferguson asked Guardiola to call before accepting another club's offer, but he did not and joined Bayern Munich in July 2013. Ferguson also wrote that José Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Jürgen Klopp, and Louis van Gaal were unavailable when United began searching for his successor.
Guardiola has said he does not recall Ferguson making an approach. Before the Manchester derby in December 2017, he explained that his English was not as good at the time and said, "I really don't remember that."
He praised Ferguson's choice of restaurant, adding: "He chose an amazing restaurant, and of course he paid." Guardiola also said he had already spoken to Bayern Munich and wanted to experience life in Germany.
Bayern announced Guardiola on 16 January 2013 on a three-year contract starting in July, replacing Jupp Heynckes.
Guardiola Ended Up at 'Noisy Neighbours' Manchester City
Guardiola spent three seasons at Bayern Munich before joining Manchester City in July 2016. In a 2020 interview, he ruled out managing Manchester United, saying, "After training City, I won't train United."
At City, Guardiola won six Premier League titles and the club's first Champions League in 2023.
Guardiola announced on 22 May 2026 that he would leave Manchester City at the end of the 2025-26 season, with one year remaining on his contract. City said he would continue with the City Football Group as a Global Ambassador.
Arsenal won the Premier League that season, while City finished with the FA Cup and League Cup.
Ferguson won 13 Premier League titles and two Champions League trophies during his Manchester United career. He has not commented publicly on the passage beyond the book, while Guardiola has yet to respond to Ferguson's account.
