After 26 years, 13 Premier League titles, 10 Community Shields, 5 FA Cups, 4 League Cups and 2 European Cups, Sir Alex Ferguson has announced his retirement as one of the most respected football managers in the world.
Sir Alex will retire at the end of this season, marking his 27th year as the most successful manager in British Football. This however, is not the end of his relationship with Manchester United as he will sit on the board of directors and become an Ambassador for the club he has dedicated his life to.Speaking about his decision, Sir Alex Ferguson said the following;
“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.”
The reaction to this news has been overwhelming, especially on Social Media. The likes of Tinchy Stryder, Ronan Keating, Usain Bolt, Piers Morgan and many other famous figures using their twitter influence to praise (or not so much in Morgan’s case) a manager that has produced one of the best teams in the world.
Speaking to a friend of mine, Will Trueman who is a die hard Manchester United fan, he said the following; “I have mixed feelings about the whole situation, I’ve woken up this morning and haven’t moved since I turned on Sky Sports News. I’ve been thinking about who I’d personally like to replace him and for many reasons, it would have to be either Moyes or Mourinho. If Sir Alex is happy enough to retire, we have to be happy with that too. He’s the only manager I’ve seen so next season is going to be difficult and I will especially miss Fergie tapping his watch!”
When breaking the news to his players, it is understood that he gathered them in the first team changing room for an emotional speech where he announced his plan to step down at the end of the season.
A replacement will need to be found but reports suggest the club will not be rushed to make this very difficult and crucial decision. Unsurprisingly, Manchester United Stocks have dropped by 4.7% since Fergie announced his retirement this morning.
Regardless of my personal feelings on Manchester United (being an Arsenal supporter) it’s safe to say that Sir Alex Ferguson will be missed and will forever stay in the history books as one of the most influential and successful managers to ever grace the world of Football.