Sir Alex Ferguson Thread - Wanted for 2012 GB Team

[dukeofdavinci]

Ferguson to step down at United before 2012

Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed he will quit Manchester United in the next three years.

The Old Trafford boss has been loath to set a date for his Old Trafford departure after reneging on his original plan to retire six years ago.

But in the wake of United's Champions League final victory, the 66-year-old said: 'I won't be managing here any more than three years at the very, very most. Without question. I can assure you of that.'

Ferguson is already the most successful manager in the history of the English game, having won 20 major trophies in his time at Old Trafford.

But he is already beginning to ponder life after football, saying: 'You have to think about time for yourself.

'I think my wife deserves a bit of my time, too.

'The older you get, the more you feel guilty about it.

'My wife, Cathy, was the one who talked me out of retiring last time but she wouldn't do that now.'

But Ferguson, who has been United manager for more than 21 years, insists he has no immediate plans to step down.

'I know I would find it hard to give up managing United,' he said.

'I can't do it, not at the moment anyway.'

Meanwhile, Manchester United chief executive David Gill believes Carlos Queiroz is 'very much in the frame' to succeed Ferguson at Old Trafford.

Ferguson revealed he will finally quit as United boss within the next three years. And although Gill insists he has not been told that by Ferguson himself, he conceded United could follow in Liverpool's example with an internal appointment when the Scot does step down.

'We haven't discussed that,' Gill told the BBC.

'I think his guiding principle over whether he stays is whether he is healthy and still has the desire, which I'm sure he will have.

'It's still three and a half years away, we will look at it at that time.'

Asked about planning for Ferguson's successor, Gill added: 'We are making sure our squad is continually reviewed and improved as necessary and the age of the squad is right so that, when Alex does decide to retire, anyone taking over has a fantastic squad with the right age profile.

'We also have an assistant manager who will be very much in the frame in Carlos Queiroz.

'He's clearly a key part of our success. If you look at what Liverpool achieved in their very successful years during the `70s and `80s (that) was through internal appointments.

'Carlos is a key factor in all the success we've achieved over the last couple of seasons.'

Ferguson has already gone back on one promise to retire but insisted he will not be managing at Old Trafford by the time he reaches 70 in December 2011.

'I won't be managing here any more than three years at the very, very most. Without question. I can assure you of that,' the 66-year-old said.

'You have to think about time for yourself. I think my wife deserves a bit of my time, too.

'The older you get, the more you feel guilty about it.

'My wife, Cathy, was the one who talked me out of retiring last time but she wouldn't do that now.'

ESPNsoccernet - England - Ferguson to step down at United before 2012

well might came as a surprise but then again it might not.we all know he cant be wth us forever.

3 years is a formidable time i guess, but who knows.nothing yet on this topic on the official site so im taking it wth a bit of salt.when the day does come, he is more then a manager to us and that will never be forgotten not even a moment in every united fan's memory.

[russe||]

I was only saying the other day that Fergie has 3 years max. Can't say I'm surprised. He has to retire sometime.

[MUFC]

Wont be the same when hes gone, he was at united before i was born

[unitedfan]

He's a legend. An absolute legend. It'l be quite a hard transition when he leaves, however sustainable the squad is when he leaves it.

[kyan]

He'll never really leave United, he's got to be given a place somewhere upstairs, although far away enough from first team affairs to prevent any future managers from feeling their toes may be stepped on a bit.

What he's achieved is just phenomenal, legend is bandied about quite often but there's no better term to describe him and what he's done at the club.

[dukeofdavinci]

He'll never really leave United, he's got to be given a place somewhere upstairs, although far away enough from first team affairs to prevent any future managers from feeling their toes may be stepped on a bit.

thats for sure now, though it will be a bit odd not to see him in the dug out.i still remember the 1st game fergie was in charge it felt weird even then to see him instead of atkinson.i wonder if it will be the same when fergie's successor takes over.

[unitedfan]

When he leaves, the inherited squad should contain 25 year olds Rooney, Ronaldo and Tevez. That's some squad to hand to his successor. Plus 22/23 year olds Anderson and Nani. They've done a good job composing this squad, in the hope it will be sustainable after Ferguson, which it should be.

[kyan]

FERGUSON: NO ADVISORY ROLE

Sir Alex Ferguson has repeated his intention to retire as Manchester United boss before 2011 - and revealed he will probably not remain at Old Trafford in any capacity.

The 66-year-old said he still has his passion for the game and it burns as strongly as ever despite fulfilling the long-term ambition of winning the European Cup for a second time.

In a Sky Sports interview with Sir David Frost, Ferguson confirmed his retirement plans and dismissed the view he may stay on in an advisory role.

"I'll carry on for no more than three years, maybe two more. I have to respect my wife because she is a not football fan you know, she's an Alex Ferguson fan," said Ferguson.

"At that point I wouldn't have an interest in how it was run. No, it would be the manager's domain. People say that if you are about the place, you are in the road, and I don't want that - the field will be left clear.

"I'll keep the enthusiasm up long past 70 - whether I'll still be doing the football, I'm not so sure about that.

"Anyway, I deserve a rest. After you've done 21 years, or 23 after a couple more seasons, you need one.

He continued: "Success gives you control. That's what you're after as a manager. Because it's very difficult to control if you're not successful.

"It means, usually, the end of your job. The most difficult job and the most important man at Manchester United is the manager. Without question, the minute that ever changed it would mean a massive free-fall in the club.

"You can never allow the players to run the football club and you can never allow the supporters to run the football club. They've all a part to play. Without our supporters, we'd be nothing; without the players, we'd be nothing.

"They are the most important components of a football club; but somebody has to run it. Somebody has to be in charge. The manager is the best man, and has always got to be supported."

Ferguson reiterated his desire to keep Cristiano Ronaldo and believes that the current crop of United players can go on to dominate in Europe and at home.

He said: "I always feel comfortable with players who have got real ability and a bit of hunger about them.

"In a way it mirrors my own image of a life with a winning attitude. I associate myself with players like that.

"Of the players who have been successful with us over the years, very few have ever caused me a problem in terms of their desire to do better, so I don't expect a problem next year.

"They're young enough and the great thing about winning the European trophy is that they want to do it again. Young players like Anderson and [Wayne] Rooney and [Cristiano] Ronaldo and Nani. These young boys - they'll want to do that again."

Ferguson also revealed that he has mellowed in his latter years and his famous 'hairdryer treatment' has been toned down.

"Jock Stein once told me there was nothing wrong with losing your temper for the right reasons and I think 70 or 80 per cent of the time it has been the right reason," he added.

"You sometimes regret it, I suppose but you are who you are. It has been premeditated at times, to get the point across or keep all their feet on the ground.

"But I have also said things in the dressing room and maybe reacted badly or too strongly. Not so much now. I'm going back maybe 15 years.

"I'm just a pussycat now. There are no flying tea cups in the dressing room at half-time anymore."

Football365.com - FERGUSON: NO ADVISORY ROLE - All The News - Football365 News

[dukeofdavinci]

tough job for a manager to head us, and i see well fergie's intention not let any thing interfere wth the future manager.ppl will always compare in will be even tougher and the press will sure do their job.

but any manger ho comes after fergie wont think him as hindrance for one.

[Mr Brightside]

THE GREATEST.

When he retires, he hopefully will have ended the Scouse belief that they are the greatest.

To leave Manchester United as the greatest team in the world, beating Liverpool's record, is the greatest achievement of all time.

Paisley, Clough, Fagan, Saunders.

You weren't as good as Sir Alec.

Just check the facts...............

[dukeofdavinci]

Sir Alex Ferguson will be asked to help choose his replacement when he finally brings down the curtain on his legendary career at the Old Trafford helm.

Since arriving in Manchester in 1986, Sir Alex has overseen the most successful chapter in the club's history. With time ticking away and the issue of his eventual replacement becoming more impending, chief executive David Gill admits it would be foolish not to consult Ferguson when the time comes.

"The owners, myself and the relevant people involved will obviously get Alex's views," said Gill. "He's somebody who has managed the club for so many years, knows the club inside out and knows what is required.

"So his opinion would be invaluable. It would be remiss of us not to have a discussion with him and involve him and get his views. He will be a key part of the process and the board will make the decision. I know Alex wants to make sure he does what he can to ensure the club is successful after he has gone.

"You don't work at a club like United for more than 20 years without falling in love with it, and he won't want the work he's done going to waste."

"The owners will expect me to do the work and then they would get involved in the process of choosing the right man. The manager is a key employee of the club and we need to get it right."

Just as United found when trying to replace Sir Matt Busby, Sir Alex will undoubtedly be a hard act to follow. Gill, however, insists the foundations are in place for the next manager to sustain the Reds' current success.

"It will be a big change and, without putting a deadline on it, time is getting closer," said Gill. "What we have to do is plan appropriately and make sure that even though the new man would want to make his own changes, there would be no need to rock the boat too much.

"It's not an impossible task for a new manager, but of course it's a difficult one. The new man will be coming in to a well-run club with a fantastic team, a great stadium and fantastic support.

"There's a good training ground and a good income stream. It would be naive to think that it won't be a big change, but we're trying to put things in place that will make it as easy as it can be."

the club consenting wth fergie when the "time" does come.

[unitedfan]

It's good that they're thinking about this now, rather than at the moment. However, reminding the current players and anyone else who may be joining that Ferguson's more-or-less set a date and is coming to a quite soon end to his job isn't something I'm overly-elated about. After all, it didn't go so well in 2001, did it?

[Mr Brightside]

Originally Posted by unitedfan

It's good that they're thinking about this now, rather than at the moment. However, reminding the current players and anyone else who may be joining that Ferguson's more-or-less set a date and is coming to a quite soon end to his job isn't something I'm overly-elated about. After all, it didn't go so well in 2001, did it?

It didn't go so well in 2001 because it was short notice and the club were a bit shocked at the suddenness.

I think the club are doing the right thing here, and planning, in conjunction with SAF, our future.

They must be commended for it.

And I hope it's Martin O'Neill.

[unitedfan]

Planning, good. Reminding, not so good.

It shouldn't effect us this season, hopefully it could even give us a lift in Fergie's last season, seeing as the team would have timeto come to terms with it in some way and send the era out with a bang. Here's hoping.

There'l be a number of managers in the frame, but the job of taking on from Ferguson could put a lot of people off it.Martin O'Neill, for example, turned down managing Nottingham Forest because he didn't want to have to follow on from Clough. That could be the case with a few former players of ours too.

And I hope it's Roy Keane

A Welshman somewhere hopes it's Hughes, and an Englishman probably hopes it's Neville