LOUIS SAHA: Ferguson was the best because he could communicate with everyone... and I believe I can be a top boss

You can speak for hours and maybe some players won't understand a word he's saying – especially with his Scottish accent - but he's able to make it so they get what he's saying.

A player might be only a teenager, in the middle of their career or much older. They might be Brazilian, Portuguese, French, from anywhere, he's able to get his message across. That's not easy.

I want to be the same type of manager. If you are in this kind of business, if you are too nice you get hammered. The players are dangerous as a group. If you find five or six players who are very strong-minded it can turn a team around.

You have to be very careful, very strong when you want something, to make sure that you are the boss. That's something you have to understand, at the same time you have to reward them. If you do that, get the right combination, you get 200 per cent from them. The players want to play for you. If you are too viscous or if you don't speak the truth at the time the players need it they won't play for you.

I believe I can manage at the highest level. You have to believe in yourself. It's all about hard work. Football managers don't mess about. They may watch I don't know how many games a season, they learn from other coaches, they remember things, they are the bible of football.

You have to be able to cope with the pressure, to cope with different characters in the team, to cope with the job.It's really demanding.

I decided it was the time to retire from playing after I spent six months at three clubs in the space of a year-and-a-half. I wasn't getting involved like I wanted to. I started to get frustrated. Physically I was not the same as I was before.

I thought it was the time for me to think about it and waited a few weeks during the summer to see if the motivation was coming back, but it wasn't the same so I decided it was the best time to go.

It just was not there. I had a little test; I always come back maybe two or three weeks before preseason and start training early. I didn't do it this year, so it was a sign for me that I don't want to suffer anymore.

The great communicator: Saha says Sir Alex Ferguson was very good at getting his message across

You're always going to miss playing, but it's not all easy. Physically I was not gifted with massive stamina, so I would say it was always difficult for me.

I had to sacrifice and work really hard, to make sure that I was very professional. That is good when your head is right, but when your head is saying you've had enough – I just had to listen to it.

Now I'm working on a few projects. I'm working as a consultant with the Stellar Group agency.

I did a lot in my time as a footballer, so now I'm trying to put that all together to give that to youngsters.

Plucked from France: Saha was signed from his homeland, first by Newcastle and then by Fulham

I'm trying to find some good players in France. I'm based there and looking for players with potential. You have to look at players, know their qualities, know if they can make it. I also advise the ones who are already with the agency.

I know how hard it can be to rise to a certain level in football. It's a process of learning through mistakes.

I made a few and now it's even harder for the youngsters, there are more people around trying to do whatever they can to get an advantage. I'm here to help them understand that and to help them to improve as a footballer. As mentor you have responsibility to help them.

Top of his game: Saha won four major trophies while at Manchester United

Marquee man: Saha has been asked to be one of the star names to play in a new Indian competition

Time to call it quits: Saha retired after short term deals at Spurs, Sunderland and Lazio

I'm also considering being part of a new football competition in India. They wanted a marquee player to boost the league and I said I'm happy to help because it's a huge continent and they are huge fans of sport.

They've done very well with cricket and they wanted to produce that with football. I thought why not? It will only be a three-month tournament so I said I'd think about it. It's a good intermediary between stopping football and trying to help other players.

In a few months we'll have more news and maybe more key players will be involved. They're still in the building process.

A football IPL? Kevin Pietersen plays in cricket's Indian Premier League and Saha could play in a football equivalent

So I could play again – if it's not too late and I don't get 10kg overweight! That's why I don't eat too many meals and I try to keep fit.

A football tournament isn't as simply as with cricket. Football pitches have to be perfect; the fans, the stadiums, it all has to be spot on. It's not a little tournament of one day.