Sir Alex Ferguson

The speculation appeared to begin suddenly and to come from nowhere, yet within hours the news had been confirmed. After 26 years in charge, Sir Alex Ferguson was to stand down as manager of Manchester United Football Club.

Just to put the whole thing in context, I have two sons who follow Manchester United and who are now in their mid twenties. They have never known United to have any other manager apart from Fergie. Elsewhere the managerial merry-go-round has continued and grown to the extent that it now not uncommon for managers to last a matter of weeks in a job. There will be toddlers growing up in Chelsea supporting households who have seen numerous managers in their short lives. With Fergie, I believe we truly have reached the end of an era.

I will not list here the list of Fergie's achievements, they can easily be found elsewhere. Suffice to say he has been the most successful football manager ever and I personally don't think his record will ever be beaten.

Now the speculation begins as to who will succeed him as manager. I am sure that lessons will have been learned from the debacle that followed the first retirement of Sir Matt Busby and I am confident that United will already have made their own mind up about who will take over the reins next season. Naturally two names spring to mind immediately, the charismatic Jose Mourinho who has already dropped broad hints that he is likely to leave Real Madrid and the current Everton manager, David Moyes who has not agreed a new deal with the Merseyside club. After eleven years there, perhaps he feels he has achieved all he can and is seeking a new challenge.

Whoever is finally named, one thing can be assured. The new manager will be taking over a team that has the winning mentality demanded by Ferguson and the mixture of experience and youth that should lead to more success in the years to come. The trophies now are all part of the rich history of this famous club but I believe that Fergie's true legacy is the position that he now leaves the club in.

Love United or hate them, I feel that there are interesting times ahead.