Shock: Sir Ale Ferguson Retires

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Sir Alex retires

• Thirteenth league title in 26 years will be his last

• Most successful manager in English football history to become a director of Manchester United FC

NYSE: MANU. Manchester, UK. Sir Alex Ferguson will retire at the end of the season, Manchester United announced today.

The most successful manager in English football history will bow out after the West Bromwich Albion game on 19 May and join the football club board.

Announcing his decision to retire, Sir Alex Ferguson said:

“The decision to retire is one that I have thought a great deal about and one that I have not taken lightly. It is the right time.

“It was important to me to leave an organisation in the strongest possible shape and I believe I have done so. The quality of this league winning squad, and the balance of ages within it, bodes well for continued success at the highest level whilst the structure of the youth set-up will ensure that the long-term future of the club remains a bright one.

“Our training facilities are amongst the finest in global sport and our home Old Trafford is rightfully regarded as one of the leading venues in the world.

“Going forward, I am delighted to take on the roles of both Director and Ambassador for the club. With these activities, along with my many other interests, I am looking forward to the future.

“I must pay tribute to my family, their love and support has been essential. My wife Cathy has been the key figure throughout my career"

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RESPECT to the greatest manager in English football (and maybe more than just in England).

I've never lived a Manchester United season without Ferguson on the bench: I'm 24 years old.

This is a bit shocking news for me as he is pure history and I'm used to see him at MUFC.

He has a statue yet...and he fully deserves that.

 

RESPECT to the living legend.

RESPECT for the great games with the Juve in the 90s

[Chris Website URL Visit Site 𝕏 fmcj10 Instagram fmcj10]

He deserves a lot of respect, he might be a little annoying especially in the mid 90's to early 2000's but his achievements as a manager standout alone. I would suspect that he will continue some sort of role behind the scenes, if he steps down and retires completely that would be a shock to me. It's been running in the rumourmill here, for the past 3 season but you wouldn't ever take it seriously.

Least until now, I doubt we will see another manager of his likes.

[super_ram]

He may not be my favourite manager/person but credit to him for what he has achieved at Man U. He has  certainly earned his retirement and I'm sure we'll still be hearing from him after he steps down.

[liampie]

well done sir alex, great achievement. moyes will need to have big feet, he wont fit in his shoes otherwise.

[weymouthPIE]

I hate Manchester United almost as much as that lot over the river, particularly their fanbase which is mostly made up of glory hunting fans who buy a replica shirt, watch every game on the telly and think that gives them a right to call themselves a loyal fan,

Over the years, I've also been far from Alex Fergusson's biggest fan. I dislike his attitude, I think he's a bit of a bully in that he makes sure that commentators, the press, and the games governing bodies are so afraid of him they daren't do or say anything which might upset him.

 

Yet despite all this, no sane person can possibly deny the mans achievements in the game. I very much doubt we will ever see another manager stay at one club for as long as Sir Alex did, and achieve as much success as what he did. He's transformed Manchester United into the institution it is today, and love them or hate them you have to admire what he's done. Time and again people doubted him and his teams, yet time and again he came back and shushed the doubters. He saw off challenges from Liverpool, Villa, Newcastle, Arsenal, Chelsea and now Manchester City on the way to seemingly league title after league title. He raised the bar in the English game, and brought some of the best players in the world to the English leagues as well as creating some of the best players in the world; you can't begrudge him his place at the top.

 

Sir Alex has certainly earned his retirement, and I hope he enjoys it, but I won't miss him.

Oh and I do wish the media would stop acting like he's died! I know it's a big story but come on, there's no need for black and white montages with depressing music in the background! He's only retiring lol.

 

As for his successor David Moyes, I have to say I'm not totally convinced by this appointment. Here is a man who has spent the last 11 years at Everton, and some would say (including a few Everton fans I know) he has got too comfortable with simply finishing in the top half season after season. In those 11 years he's never won a trophy, in fact the only managerial honour to his name is the second divison title with Preston North End at the end of the 90s. He's never managed a team to victory at Old Trafford, Arsenal or Anfield and furthermore, he's not been used to managing some of the world's top players. Granted, he worked with Rooney for five minutes before he was sold but that's hardly preparation for the job he's about to undertake.

 

I question the motives behind his appointment. Regardless of Alex Fergusson making the reccomendation I think a large part of the decision to appoint Moyes is stability. United have had the same manager for 26 years, David Moyes has been at Everton for 11 years. But the game has changed since Fergie first rolled into the car park at Old Trafford, even since David Moyes first arrived at Goodison Park. As us Notts County fans well know, we live in an "I want success now and I can't wait" world. The bulk of Manchester United 'fans' won't care in the slightest about having a manager in place for the next decade, all's they'll be interested in is winning a couple of trophies every season. Will Moyes be able to handle the pressure and expectation? Will he be able to spend more money than he's ever had to spend on the right players? Will he be able to do all this under the watchfull eyes of Sir Alex? As a neutral, I have a lot of doubts, I can see there being a lot of interference from Fergie which won't be fair.

 

David Moyes, and indeed anyone who manages Manchester United in the future will always be compared to Fergusson on everything and that's unfair. Moyes is his own man. And you just know that at the slightest dip in form in his first season, the press will jump straight on his back saying he can't handle the burden.

 

But this is all just one man's opinion. We'll have to wait and see how he does but personally I'm not too sure on the appointment.

 

Jesus, I have woffled on!

[Joe Jones]

For one man to manage a team for 26 years at the very highest level, and winning the silverware he has domestically and internationally, and turning the team into the biggest, most marketable team in the world - Sir Alex Ferguson truly is one of the game's greatest managers.

However, I do wonder whether next year's Premiership will now be split wide open, since the shock to Man United's system may be too great in the first season post-Fergie.

This year's Premiership was dishwater-dull, with all the other big teams failing to mount a decent enough challenge against what was one of Fergie's more mediocre teams. Hopefully this should shake things up a bit. I would - quoting Kevin Keegan - LOVE IT if we could enjoy a legitimate five-horse challenge for the title of Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City right until May time. And then comes the World Cup in BRAZIL! Ole!

[weymouthPIE]

For one man to manage a team for 26 years at the very highest level, and winning the silverware he has domestically and internationally, and turning the team into the biggest, most marketable team in the world - Sir Alex Ferguson truly is one of the game's greatest managers.

However, I do wonder whether next year's Premiership will now be split wide open, since the shock to Man United's system may be too great in the first season post-Fergie.

This year's Premiership was dishwater-dull, with all the other big teams failing to mount a decent enough challenge against what was one of Fergie's more mediocre teams. Hopefully this should shake things up a bit. I would - quoting Kevin Keegan - LOVE IT if we could enjoy a legitimate five-horse challenge for the title of Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City right until May time. And then comes the World Cup in BRAZIL! Ole!

You mean a Premiership season as exciting as this season in the Championship, League 1 and League 2?

Would be great wouldnt it mate to have 5 teams pushing all the way, the final day of this Premiership season could be a bit of a non-event with the title being wrapped up, and the relegation places could be decided by next Tuesday

[super_ram]

Not at all waffle,James, but very well put over. A lot of people will agree with what you are trying to say. Myself, I don't hate Man U but like yourself am irritated by the 'fans' who jump on the bandwagon. Over the years there have been a few teams that have attracted the reflected glory type of fans.

When Spurs won the double and later Arsenal,various Liverpool teams,Florest and even my team have had their share of fans who suddenly transfer their allegiance to a different 'successful' side when the the good times end.The reason Man U have so many of these fans is because of the amount of prolonged success they  have enjoyed. Sir Alex must take a lot of the credit for this.

[cheeky~k8]

Its a great achievement for him no matter how many man u fans arn't real ones. The club has done really well and i'm sure they'll miss him but hes been there a very long time and achieved alot in that time too.

[super_ram]

I read somewhere , earlier this week,regarding when Sir Matt Busby stood down as Man U's Manager.The author of the article was voicing concerns about how M.U.'s fortunes went downhill after his departure.A succession of managers failed to halt  United's decline and they were eventually relegated.I can't see history being repeated though,with the present side being in good shape

[Fan of Big Tone 𝕏 @mainstandpie]

No matter how you feel about Man Utd you can't take away the fact that Sir Alex has achieved some fantastic things in his Time with them.

Some of the quotes from their fans on the radio made me cringe though.

"It's like a member of the family dying"

NO IT ISN'T!

"It's like losing an arm or a leg"

NO IT ISN'T!

Get real please.

[MuddyPatchPie]

I'm not a Man United fan but I do respect sir Alex's achievements although it does help having money to buy decent players. Good decision to quit after winning the premiership title. Can't help but have a little snigger at his sons achievements at Peterborough! I hate that ground lol!

[Chris Website URL Visit Site 𝕏 fmcj10 Instagram fmcj10]

No matter how you feel about Man Utd you can't take away the fact that Sir Alex has achieved some fantastic things in his Time with them.

Some of the quotes from their fans on the radio made me cringe though.

"It's like a member of the family dying"

NO IT ISN'T!

"It's like losing an arm or a leg"

NO IT ISN'T!

Get real please.

It's not that extreme, yet to people who know nothing better I guess it is. Considering, Most of United fans are silverware hugging glory fans (so sorry Steve). The genuine fans tend to suffer, it's lucky for United that City is now are attracting them. Sooner or later, very few Manchester born fans will be in attendance at their respective grounds. It will be good for them horrid lower down Manchester/near by sides.

Least he's given the torch to David Moyes in a pretty humble way.

 

I'm not a Man United fan but I do respect sir Alex's achievements although it does help having money to buy decent players. Good decision to quit after winning the premiership title. Can't help but have a little snigger at his sons achievements at Peterborough! I hate that ground lol!

I'm surprised Moyes was the clear favourite, I had expected to see Darren's name creeping in because of the whole 'he'll be like his father'. Darren isn't really that good in my opinion, when our fans wanted him I was cringing beyond belief.

[MuddyPatchPie]

It's hard to believe Darren can be such a poor manager. He should have loaned a few more players from his dad haha Thought Man U might try and pinch Mourinho from under Chelsea's noses!!

[super_ram]

That would have been funny

[Chris Website URL Visit Site 𝕏 fmcj10 Instagram fmcj10]

Mourinho for all his talents, his EGO clearly is the best of his skill set. I would have laughed, though I think United wouldn't turned his attention to be honest. I have to be honest, I missed him after he departed and the clowns who came after annoyed me on different levels. I'm not a big fan of Rafa, though I would prefer to see him replaced with the guy who he took the Champions League from.

Panto - He's behind you!! LOL

[Harrys_Mummy]

it's no big shocker that he has retired. i think it has been on the cards for a while now!<br />it just seems that there are a few managers in the English premier league who really should hand up their manager's hats, and let a few of the younger lads have a chance of experience

[super_ram]

Not many managers  get the same backing that Sir Alex had when he was first appointed.

In some cases a manager is appointed, spends silly money in a vain attempt to get success.That manager is then quickly sacked and replaced by a manager who is given much less to spend. The new manager fails to produce instant success and is sacked.So it goes on and on