Alex Ferguson has revealed that he will retire at the end of the season bringing his 27-year stay at Manchester United to an end.
Rumours surfaced on Tuesday evening that the Scot was considering retiring after learning that the hip replacement surgery he is to undergo in July is likely to force him to miss the start of next season.
And United have now confirmed that Ferguson will move onto the club’s board when the campaign reaches its conclusion.
Ferguson said: “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.
“I must pay tribute to my family, their love and support has been essential. My wife Cathy has been the key figure throughout my career,providing a bedrock of both stability and encouragement. Words are not enough to express what this has meant to me.
“As for my players and staff, past and present, I would like to thank them all for a staggering level of professional conduct and dedication that has helped to deliver so many memorable triumphs. Without their contribution the history of this great club would not be as rich.”
Ferguson has enjoyed unprecedented success at Old Trafford since his arrival from Aberdeen in 1986, becoming the club’s most successful manager of all time.
Though it took the new United boss four years to seal his first trophy success, the 1989-90 FA Cup, that served as a springboard to the club, as they subsequently dominated the English football landscape for over 20 years.
Ferguson has since added four further FA Cups, 13 Premier League titles, four League Cups and two UEFA Champions Leagues to the club’s major honours list.
United’s title win this season was the 20th in their history, taking them two clear of arch rivals Liverpool.
The Glasgow-born boss, who was knighted after leading the club to a treble of league FA Cup and Champions League in 1998-99, will oversee his final game when his side face West Brom at the Hawthorns on May 19.
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