[Faline]

Sir Alex Ferguson is retiring as manager of Manchester United, the club has confirmed.



The manager, who has been at the club for 26 years, said in a statement: "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 Scotsman secured his 13th Premier League title with Manchester United two weeks ago and is the most successful manager in British football history.

The deal to appoint a successor has already been done and approved by the club's board, understands Sky News City Editor Mark Kleinman.

An announcement is expected within days, with Sky sources saying Everton boss David Moyes is in "pole position" to get the job.

Ferguson, 71, will stay at Manchester United as a director and an ambassador, but now has just two games left with the famous club.

"With these activities, along with my many other interests, I am looking forward to the future," Ferguson said.

"I must pay tribute to my family, their love and support has been essential."

The success of the club would continue without him, said Ferguson, who had a stand at Old Trafford named in his honour in 2011.

"The quality of this league winning squad, and the balance of ages within it, bodes well for continued success at the highest level ... the long-term future of the club remains a bright one," said Ferguson.

Former FA chief executive Mark Palios told Sky News that the Scot's achievements were unrivalled and said they "would never be repeated again".

David Davis, former FA executive director, said he would place him above iconic managers like Bobby Robson, Bill Shankley and Matt Busby as the "best British manager of any generation".

The Prime Minister, David Cameron, also joined in the tributes and tweeted: "Sir Alex Ferguson’s achievement at #MUFC has been exceptional. Hopefully his retirement will make life a little easier for my team #AVFC"

The "foundations of the Premiership have shaken this morning", said Sky News Sports Correspondent Paul Kelso.

"Fergie steps aside as the greatest figure in football management - there’ll be a very long queue of managers seeking to replace him.

"You have to be a certain manager to manage Manchester United," former United player Paul Ince told Sky News.

"It's very important the next man is the right man."

Michael Owen, who is himself retiring at the end of the season, tweeted: "What an act to follow. I guess only Mourinho would have the confidence to strut through the door. If it were me, I'd go for Moyes."

Sir Alex, who began his managerial career in Scotland in 1974, enjoyed success with St Mirren and Aberdeen before moving to England.

He won 49 trophies during his career - his haul with Manchester United including five FA Cups, four league cups and two famous Champions League titles, in 1999 and 2008

[icheerthebull]

He can say what he wants, until the announce a new manager I don't believe it. He will die at old Trafford

[Johnny Wadd]

About fuckin' time

COYS

[kellyhound]

well deserved

[Faline]

Originally Posted by kellyhound ↗

well deserved

Exactly.
He may not have been the most loved manager and i know a lot hate Man Utd but there's no denying he was a good manager.

[ices]

Here we go, David Moyes is appointed and "yeah I think he will do good"

"yeah we love a passionate scot!"

"fergie approves so he will be good for the club"




Lets see the fans come up with that horse shit when results dont go their way.

[Nite]

Jesus a baby could manage that team to a title, what is their competition Chelsea? He should have taken the reins at Scotland now there's a challenge

[Pie]

He was one of the best managers, but I don't think it really matters what manager the team has.

99% of their success is due to the fact that their team is made up from some of the best players in the world, they'll always be one of the best regardless of who's telling them what to do.

[gatagato]

One of the most admired and respected managers in the history of football, all the best coaches in the world think that it has been a great honour to compete with him.

[FredFlintstone]

Originally Posted by Nite ↗

Jesus a baby could manage that team to a title, what is their competition Chelsea? He should have taken the reins at Scotland now there's a challenge

Alex Ferguson has built Manchester United from top to bottom though, and it's not just about how many trophies he's won that's impressive, it's how he achieved that by bringing through so many youth players (The Neville brothers, Beckham, Giggs, Scholes, Brown, O'Shea, Wellbeck etc) and signing bargain buys like Peter Schmeichel for 750k, Irwin for 625k Cantona for 1.2m, Solskjaer for 1.6m Steve Bruce 825k, Roy Keane for 3,75m then going on to win and dominate the English league for over 20 years.

All the prize money the club won from TV money, Prize winnings from the League and Champions League was really spent developing the Stadium, Training facilities and the club in general...and now they're the richest club in the world because of that.

Fergie has earnt his way to the top properly, he hasn't always just gone and bought 2 or 3 world class players every season and just gone and won the league as you're making out.

And to answer your question...their main competition comes from their neighbors Manchester City now, who are also trying to buy the League and just about every talented players there is going (same as Chelsea over the years) as they have a mega rich Arab owner. Last season Man City won the title, And Ferguson has won it again this year after spending very little in comparison.

Ferguson time at Aberdeen shouldn't be forgotten either...

It's truly is a sad day for football in my opinion, I personally can't think of a better manager than Fergie... he's a true great.