United Boss Sir Alex Ferguson Issues Retirement Date

It seems impossible to imagine Manchester United without Sir Alex Ferguson. The legendary manager has been at the club for almost a quarter of a century, and success under his guidance continues to flourish, with yet another young team of talent bursting through the ranks to help continue the 69 year old’s United legacy.

12 Premier League titles, 5 F.A Cups, 4 League Cups, 2 Champions League’s, 10 Manager of the Year Awards and 26 Manager of the Month Awards, as well as countless other accolades which other managers could only dream of are just a number of the brilliant collection of honours which grace Ferguson’s personal trophy cabinet. He is the personification of success, and over the past 25 years, has helped to paint further on Manchester United’s illustrious canvas of history.

However, Sir Alex Ferguson is only human. If he could go on in the Manchester United job forever, he would, and there would be little objection from the United fans for him to do so. Alas, he cannot, and his inevitable retirement is drawing ever closer, with the soon to be 70 year-old Scot announcing that he feels he has only three to four more years left in the job which has made him a footballing legend.

He has seen hundreds of great players ‘hang up their boots’ while he has been in charge of United, and after coming close to doing so in 2002, Sir Alex may soon be ready to ‘hang up his gum’, or perhaps just throw it away. He said after his sides victory over newly promoted side Norwich:

“I’ve got three or four years left. I feel good. But when I do leave, I will leave in place a strong young team that will continue to succeed for my successor.”

He has always said that his health will dictate on his future; as long as he is fit and well to continue his job, he will do so, and the moment it becomes a strain on his health and a burden on his family, he will give it up. Thanks to his good health and continued success, football fans of all allegiances have had the privilege of watching drama after drama, controversy after controversy, and success after success at United – pure entertainment, and for United fans; sheer joy.

That ‘strong young team’ which he mentioned is in the process of development, and have so far had a blistering start to the Premier League season, scoring an amazing 24 goals in seven Premier League games. The defence may need some tightening, but what Sir Alex Ferguson can’t fix managerial wise, isn’t worth fixing.

He has managed 1,403 Manchester United games, won 832, drawn 325 and lost just 246, scoring 2,569 in the process. In the four or so years he may have left in the job, Ferguson may yet break more records, cause more controversies, win more trophies, and cement his place further as Manchester United’s greatest ever manager. Who on earth will replace him?

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