He spent 39 years in the dugout, most notably at Manchester United and Aberdeen, where he achieved domestic and European success.

But after amassing a glittering haul of trophies at Old Trafford, including two Champions League titles, winning the Premier League 13 times and five English FA Cups, on top of his success in the 1980s with the Dons which saw him clinch the Scottish Premier Division three times, four Scottish Cups and a European Cup Winners Cup, Ferguson retired in May 2013.

However, Sir Alex seems to be missing the 6am daily starts needed to get down ot the training ground and the pressure of ensuring his former multi-millionaire charges perform at the highest level on the park.

Since turning his back full-time on the game, the 73-year-old Scot has published his autobiography, lectured students at Harvard Business School on achieving success and auctioned off some of his wine collection.

But returning to his home city yesterday, on one of his other roles as a charity ambassador, the ex-manager admitted he is finding retirement "more exhausting" than managing the club where he spent 27 years.

Sir Alex was at Glasgow City Chambers to hand over £5,000 towards the cost of building a statue of a woman who successfully led rent strikes in Govan, where he grew up, during the First World War.

He said: "I'm making sure that I'm active, that's important when you retire and I've got many things on my plate.

"It's funny because it's a different type of work, where as at United I would be in every morning at quarter to seven and be there to tea time, it's the one constant thing in your life.

"Now, it's different things so that's probably more exhausting.

"I don't get up at six in the morning any more that's for sure, I have a long lie now and again."

Sir Alex wrote a cheque for the Remember Mary Barbour Fund in memory of the "formidable firebrand" from Govan.

Ms Barbour led rent strikes in the city in 1915, forcing a change in the law with the introduction of the Rent Restrictions Act.

After the war, she maintained her push to deliver better conditions for women and children across the city by becoming one of the first female councillors, the first female Baillie - a civic officer - and a magistrate.

Sir Alex said: "It was only when I got into my adult years that I learned about her.

"I never got told about it at school, it was by looking at Harry Benson's book of photographs of Glasgow, that's where I learned about Mary Barbour.

"Obviously, the Govan connection stirred a real interest and for me, that great photograph of all the housewives in Govan standing outside the close - that rent man was never getting in - that registers deeply with me, I've looked at that photograph many, many times.

"That was the start of my interest in this and I think it's a great cause too.

"A housewife's role at that time was to look after the house, make sure the kids got to school and that there was food on the table, and that image shows the strength of the women that they were not prepared to take any more from rent men at that particular time.

"It was a courageous move and Mary Barbour went on to do many great things after that, and she's well remembered for it."

Sir Alex takes pride in where he grew up and hopes the campaign and the statue can lead to more people learning about Ms Barbour's story.

He said: "Your upbringing is important, I think it's the foundation of your life.

"I was fortunate that I had good parents who did the best they could possibly do for me.

"Many people have said I came from a poor background but I don't think that people who grew up in my time thought they were poor.

"You were taught to be the best you can be by not just parents but by the teachers you had at school.

"Education is not just about going to school, it's about inspiring you, and I was inspired by many people."

The football legend met Glasgow Lord Provost Sadie Docherty, who launched the fund, and former MP Maria Fyfe, chair of the Remember Mary Barbour Association, at the City Chambers.

Ms Fyfe said: "A rough estimate is we need between £80,000 and £100,000, it depends on the proposals from artists that come forward and the materials they want to use.

"At the moment, we're touching about £40,000, including promises as well as actual cash.

"We're hugely grateful to Sir Alex Ferguson for his support."