With Sir Alex Ferguson set to retire from his post as Manchester United manager, there are a few questions that must be lingering on the minds of many people.
Yesterday saw the end of an era, a man who is responsible for all the good things which have happened at Manchester United for the last 26 years finally decided to call it a day. His unexpected announcement to retire as Man United coach has obviously raised a couple of questions, some of them have been discussed below.
Is the time of Ferguson’s retirement declaration good?
Quite naturally, it was inevitable to see Sir Alex Ferguson bow out eventually. If one takes a look at what Sir Alex means to football and the club, it was very natural to see him bid adieu to his time at the club on a winning note.
20 titles won by Man United, with 13 of them coming during his reign clearly means that the Scot would go down in history as one of the greatest managers football has ever seen.
There might be no better time to announce the retirement than after winning a title, further to this SAF has brought Man United to a sustainable stage. The team is an ideal combination of exuberant young players, who have experienced players to guide them. Sir Alex has laid the perfect foundations for his successor to take over.
Was his retirement planned since last year?
Last season, there was a lot of speculation suggesting that Pep Guardiola may eventually replace Ferguson at Old Trafford. Rumours claimed that Manchester United had set up a meeting with the former Barcelona manager in New York in order to discuss a possible move to the club.
Understandably, Sir Alex would have been thinking about retirement for a long time and what happened yesterday, must have been a result of all the thinking the wily Scot would have been doing since last season.
Who deserves to replace Ferguson?
With the way he has transformed the club as one of the biggest enterprises in sports, Sir Alex Ferguson would be a tough act to follow. Filling in those big boots will be a tough task but there are managers out there who are capable of doing all that. The likes of David Moyes, Jose Mourinho and Jurgen Klopp have been touted as potential successors. But if the ‘Fergie-way’ of dealing with the club’s affairs is given some consideration, it is the Everton manager who should be the worthy successor.
Even though he has never won any piece of silverware, Moyes has shown his adaptability in getting the best out of a team that’s always running on a tight budget while also making sure that the academy is used to its maximum potential. Some notable names might help United in conquering Europe but they might deviate from the principles on which Manchester United is operated.
Moyes is one man who can ensure that the club remains true to its principles and also succeeds.
How does Ferguson’s last season rate at Manchester United?
When the season officially ends, United will have only Premier League success to show for their efforts. The class of 2012/2013 is certainly not as flashy or awe-inspiring as the ones from yesteryears.
United were dumped out of the Champions League, luck played a huge role in that. Failure to progress further in the League Cup and then bowing out of the FA Cup is something the club could have avoided but then again, reclaiming the crown from the grasp of Manchester City was something Ferguson really wanted and ultimately succeeded in doing so.
How should Ferguson be remembered as a coach?
There are not many managers out there who have the ability to transform the fortunes of a club after getting so precariously close to getting the sack. After the late Sir Matt Busby retired, United struggled to assert their authority in England for almost 20 years. The arrival of Ferguson changed all that.
And after a rather disappointing start, Ferguson soon affirmed his authority, and what was to follow was one of the most successful managerial reigns in English football history.
He would always be remembered by how he intimidated referees, media and all those who pointed finger at him or his team but nevertheless he was a great leader at the club and an inspiration to all young coaches.
All in all Ferguson will be remembered as a winner, it was him who ignited a never die spirit we have seen in Manchester United sides for years. At times it has been mental strength and not quality that has earned Man United points in crunch games and the 71 year old can take full credit for it.
It would not be wrong to suggest that the Scot should be breathed in the same air as the likes of Herbert Chapman, Matt Busby, Helenio Herrera, Bill Shankly, Sir Alf Ramsey, Don Revie, Johan Cruyff and Arrigo Sacchi. We might certainly not see a coach like Sir Alex Ferguson for a long time.
