In his statement,
he said: “The decision to retire is one that I have thought a great deal about
and not taken lightly. It is the right time.” – Alex Ferguson.
Manchester
United has confirmed that Sir Alex Ferguson will step down as the club’s
manager at the end of the season after 26 years in charge at Old Trafford.
The
71-year-old is the most successful manager in the history of English football,
having won 38 trophies – including 13 Premier League titles – since taking over
from Ron Atkinson in November 1986.
Ferguson
will say his goodbyes to the Old Trafford crowd after Sunday’s home clash
against Swansea before taking on a role as an ambassador on the united board of
directors.
In a
statement on United’s official website, 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, providing bedrock of both
stability and encouragement. Words are not enough to express what this has
meant to me.
“As for my
players and staff, past and present, I would like to thank them all for a
staggering level of professional conduct and dedication that has helped to
deliver so many memorable triumphs. Without their contribution the history of
this great club would not be as rich.
“In my early
years, the backing of the board, and Sir Bobby Charlton in particular, gave me
the confidence and time to build a football club, rather than just a football
team.
“Over the
past decade, the Glazer family have provided me with the platform to manage
Manchester United to the best of my ability and I have been extremely fortunate
to have worked with a talented and trustworthy Chief Executive in David Gill. I
am truly grateful to all of them.
“To the
fans, thank you. The support you have provided over the years has been truly
humbling. It has been an honour and an enormous privilege to have had the
opportunity to lead your club and I have treasured my time as manager of
Manchester United.”
Ferguson
scheduled a meeting to break the news to staff at the club’s Carrington
training ground at 9.30am and will hold an interview with United’s in-house
television station, MUTV, at 10.30am.
Everton
manager David Moyes has been installed as the bookmakers’ favourite to succeed
the Scot while Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho is also among the favourites to
take over at Old Trafford.
The
announcement of Ferguson’s decision to retire came after intense speculation
following a golf match between united players and coaches at Dunham Massey on
Tuesday.
Ferguson has
long been planning for his succession and has consistently cited his health as
the decisive factor in the timing of his retirement. He had a pacemaker fitted
in 2004 and United confirmed last week that he would undergo hip surgery in
August.
David Gill’s
decision to stand down as chief executive this summer saw Ferguson lose a close
ally within the club and there had been suggestions that he came close to
quitting at the end of last season losing out on the Premier League title to
rivals Manchester City.
Ferguson
previously expressed his regret over announcing his retirement before the end
of the 2001-02, which he felt led to poor on-pitch performances and resulted in
a U-turn after he had a change of heart.
Manchester
united fans, what’s your take on this?
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