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This morning I woke up to the news that there was a lot of speculation and rumour being thrown around, hinting at Sir Alex Ferguson's reign as Manchester United manager finally coming to an end.
The first thing I thought was 'rubbish!'.
I was reading, not too long back, an article which included some quotes from Sir Alex, stating he had no intention of walking away, despite the impending surgery he had looming over his head come the end of the season...
As you can imagine, when the confirmation from Old Trafford that Sir Alex intends to retire at the end of the season came on the news I was gobsmacked. That's it. No more Fergie hurling abuse at refs from the touchline. No more Fergie chewing gum until his jaw aches with frustration. No more Fergie jumping with joy like a jack-in-a-box when United score.
I glanced at Fergie's record as manager at United, and while I knew he had won a lot of competitions, I was still left astonished... Just take a look at this:
Premier League: 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013.
FA Cup: 1990, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004
League Cup: 1992, 2006, 2009, 2010
Champions League: 1999, 2008
Cup Winners Cup: 1991
Fifa Club World Cup: 2008
Uefa Super Cup: 1992
Inter-Continental Cup: 1999
FA Charity/Community Shield: 1990 (shared), 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011
Impressive, don't you think?
I can't really see how United will ever replace such an iconic, successful, influential manager as Ferguson, which is why I feel his appointment to the board of directors as an ambassador for the club is a key decision.
Whoever comes in to fill his rather large boots on the toucline will have an incredibly difficult task ahead of them. Not just to gain success, which has become a standard for any season at Old Trafford, but to gain the respect and trust of the fans. Somehow I just know they'll be a tough nut to crack. Fergie's wisdom from his 26 years at the reigns will prove invaluable to his successor, without a shadow of a doubt.
Mourinho seems to be the word on everyone's lips at the moment, and prior to this news, in fact only yesterday, I was suggesting it was likely he'll be back at Stamford Bridge next season, charming the media and the fans with his unmistakeable charisma and infectious sense of humour. But now, I'm not so certain; it seems the timing for him to step in at Old Trafford is impeccable. Almost like it has been planned...
David Moyes is also in the running, with discussions on his suitability for the job having already taken place in earlier years. He's always been one that would seem likely to go for it, after making a success of his time at Everton, battling through difficult financial times along the way.
The one downfall Moyes has is the lack of trophies in his cabinet; make that zero.
My view is that they have a perfect candidate in Jose Mourinho, a natural born winner, who has plenty of desire for both domestic and continental success. His unique character would make him a fan favourite at United, similarly to his days at Stamford Bridge, where he led Chelsea to back-to-back Premier League titles. It would take time though - his induction would be a tough one, but with the board's backing, including Fergie's, I'm sure this wouldn't cause significant issues and he'd be able to get to winning ways soon enough. Not to mention the fact that he would already be inheriting a '90% there' squad...
Mourinho could also bring a little golden nugget with him. Cristiano Ronaldo. The lure of Old Trafford and Mourinho surely would be too much for the fans' favourite number 7 to resist...? If this happened, the fan's support would almost definitely be secured. It's just a question of whether the club's American owners would be willing to shell out the significant amount of coin which Madrid would demand...
Whichever way this pans out, I'm glad in a way that Fergie has stepped down. While we may not see a greater manager with even half as much success grace the Premier League (or football in general), I'm sure other Premier League managers are cracking open a bottle of champagne, and drinking to the future, because the doubts will begin surfacing whether United will enjoy the same level of success again. There may also be a few grins on faces at the fact this may spell the end of the now infamous 'Fergie Time'.
Sir Alex Ferguson - what a triumph his career has been. Speaking as a Leeds United Fan, I should be pleased he's leaving the touchline for good, but truthfully? I think this is football's loss. A great manager, a great leader, a great man.
Mourinho & Moyes - If either of you takes the reigns, good luck.
Let me know your thoughts - Will United never be the same, or has Sir Alex left them in a position where the foundations are firm to push on for more success?
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