Sam Allardyce insists he is not planning to retire after being sacked by Blackburn Rovers earlier this week.
Allardyce, recently considered a possible successor to current England boss Fabio Capello, was surprisingly axed on Monday and there had been suggestions that the former Bolton and Newcastle manager could walk away from the game.
But the 56-year-old told the News of the World: "I said I'd retire about now but that was wrong. It's not great for your health but it is a drug.
“It's a lifestyle you find difficult to do without. You keep saying you might be able to do without it but you can't really. There's too much in it. It's a necessity.
“It doesn't please (wife) Lynne when I say that...she's always saying 'when are you going to have had enough'. But it's a way of life for me.
“People asked me last time if I would consider going into the Championship but why would people think my skill sets would be that level?
“It's not being big-headed - it's just self confidence when you have done it for so long.
“This was my 10th consecutive season in the Premier League but there's only Sir Alex and Arsene (Wenger) who have managed in the Premier League longer than me.
“And if Premier League football does not come my way, I have other ambitions. An international job interests me - that would be a new adventure."
And Allardyce went on to speak of his disappointment at being sacked despite his efforts in the two years he was in charge at Ewood Park.
He continued: “I'm disappointed I've left after two years of hard graft. I've really transformed a football club that was bleeding and looking in serious trouble in relegation terms as well.
“We finished 10th last season but football has a very short memory. We finished a good 15 points off relegation - we were nowhere near it. And that was after looking after the finances.
“I haven't just taken them from relegation problems into safety but we have undergone redevelopment with financial stability.
“My model is much deeper than looking after players. My model is understanding the industry, working within it.”