The United boss was speaking ahead of the Saturday's clash with Fulham where he will pit his wits against Roy Hodgson, whose coaching CV reads like a travel brochure.

"Roy Hodgson has done what a lot of us would love to have done and work abroad, " Ferguson told leaguemanagers.com. "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."