‘Fergie Time’ coming to an end?

With the news that Liverpool have called an end to Rafa Benitez’s reign as manager I asked myself, is it time for Fergie to finally call it a day once and for all?

He has been in charge of United for a staggering 24 years starting in 1986. He is still in the shade of Sir Matt Busby who managed for a total of 25 years, however Sir Alex has overseen more matches as manager of United.

Fergie has stated that he wants to retire in two years time, ultimately if he does last another two years, he will pass Sir Matt Busby’s record and no doubt go down in history as the greatest Premiership manager of all time, if not the world!

Throughout his managerial career which involved a year as Scotland National team manager after the death of coach Jock Stein, success has followed Fergie wherever he goes. He managed Scottish side St Mirren for four years winning the Scottish First division in 1976. He then moved onto Aberdeen where his found real success and his name began to get recognised.

Fergie won three Scottish Premier Division titles, four Scottish cups, one Scottish league cup, one UEFA Cup Winner’s Cup and the UEFA Super Cup. He won all in just eight years – quite a record for a team that wasn’t expected to achieve such success. The huge triumph at Aberdeen got him the managerial tenure at the world’s biggest club Manchester United and the rest is just history!

Sir Alex is now at the tender age of 68 and must surely find it difficult to handle the pressures of managerial football at the highest level. I sometimes think the way his passion still shines through that he is going to have a heart attack! With United losing out to Chelsea in the Premier League and falling at the Quarter Final stage of the Champions league to Bayern Munich, we only picked up the Micky Mouse trinket that is the Carling Cup, so has the time come for a fresh start?

I think we all realise that we need to invest in one or two world class players this summer if we are to win our trophies back, but to me it seems as though Fergie just doesn’t see it through the eyes of the rest of the United faithful. Rumours are circling that Jose Mourinho has a get out clause as Real Madrid manager which allows him to become the next United manager. We know that both him and Fergie like to share a bottle of the finest red wine once in a while whilst we also know that Sir Alex will have a big say in who succeeds him as the next manager.

Looking at the success of ‘the special one’, he seems the perfect choice. Yes, he’s a completely different kettle of fish to Fergie, but look what he has achieved in such a short spell as a manager. He’s a winner and so are United.

Maybe new owners should start the re-vamp of United before the resignation of Fergie. However, new owners or not, we know and I’m sure he knows, that it won’t be long until we are sadly waving goodbye to the greatest manager of all time.