Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has decided to begin his retirement with a cruise around Scotland.

The 71-year-old, who quit Old Trafford after 26 years in charge, will take his wife Cathy, three sons and 11 grandchildren on the trip from Oban to Iona.

"Sir Alex is looking forward to his family holiday of a lifetime," Ferguson's friend and ex-Scotland manager Craig Brown told the Manchester Evening News.

"He has been in New York and France since he retired as the boss at United but his dream trip is a cruise. He told me himself that his family holiday of a lifetime is to go on a Scottish cruise. I thought he wanted to sail round the Caribbean or somewhere exotic."

While Ferguson has left his post as United manager, he will remain at the club as a director and ambassador.