Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed he will retire as manager of Manchester United at the end of the season.
His 26-year reign comes to an end after massive speculation surfaced last night regarding his future.
Everton manager David Moyes and Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho have both been backed at the bookies to replace the Scot, although United have not made any further announcement at this stage.
Ferguson joined the Reds in 1986 and endured a difficult start to his reign, with the Old Trafford board reported ready to axe him before winning a crucial FA Cup game against Nottingham Forest thanks to Mark Robins’ late goal.
But since then, Ferguson has become the most successful manager in British football, winning 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups, four League Cups and two Champions League titles for the Reds.
His retirement comes as a surprise, especially after revealing in his programme notes for Sunday’s game against Chelsea that he had no plans to walk away.
He said: “This team of champions is not going away – we are here for the long ride.
