If you haven't heard by now, Sir Alex Ferguson is retiring as manager of Manchester United at the end of this season. We all knew that this day would come, but it came as a bit of a shock to me that today would be the day that he would announce his retirement. Honestly, what can I say about him that hasn't already been said by countless other Manchester United supporters. The only thing I can truly offer differently is to share my personal connection to watching Sir Alex.
Alex Ferguson has been the manager of Manchester United since before I was born. When I began to follow Manchester United a very long time ago, he was that iconic figure for me in that club. To me, Sir Alex Ferguson IS Manchester United, and to have him leave after all these years, it feels like, as a Man United supporter, a part of me is lost. You can't just simply say goodbye to a long and illustrious 26 and a half year career where he turned a struggling club into one of the world powers of football and the biggest brand in all of sport. He knocked Liverpool off their fucking perch. He made Bayern Munich weep in 1999. He turned the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Roy Keane, and Ruud van Nistelrooy into world stars. He made use of the academy and out came more world class players like Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, and the Neville brothers. He gave his absolute everything to the club, and saying a simple thank you and goodbye just doesn't seem enough for me.
Now the obvious question with his retirement as manager of Manchester United is, well, who will be replacing him. Well, there are two obvious candidates that were identified: Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho, and Everton manager David Moyes. One of them seems like the great short-term hire, and the other seems like the great long-term hire.
Jose Mourinho is the best manager in world football right now. His teams consistently go deep in the Champions League and he can motivate a team like no other. But Mourinho can't seem to stay at a team for more than 3 years, and he has a tendency to make things all about him, rather than the club itself. This would be bad for a team like Manchester United, as the club itself is bigger than any player or manager. If Manchester United wants to be assured of consistently performing well in Europe, and focus more on short-term goals, then hire Mourinho. I don't agree with this, though.
David Moyes has built a very good Everton team on a strict budget, constantly punching above its weight. He doesn't have much experience in continental football, but he is a commanding individual, similar to that of Sir Alex. If he is hired, my fear is that Man United will not perform as well as when Sir Alex is in charge, especially in Europe. But what eclipses that fear is the potential long-term stability that may occur if Moyes is hired. Moyes has been Everton manager for 11 years, so it is possible that he can be the Man United manager for many years to come. Moyes made big moves despite being on a tight budget at Everton, imagine what he can do with a lot more money at his disposal. If I had to choose which manager should succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, it would be David Moyes.
No matter which manager will be the next manager of Manchester United, it is pretty safe to say that it will be impossible to fill the shoes of Sir Alex Ferguson. He is the greatest manager in football, there's no question about it, and probably one of the greatest managers/coaches in all of sports. He is irreplaceable. He is more than a legend, more than an icon, and more than anyone can ever hope for.
I hope that bronze statue of Sir Alex outside Old Trafford is always shining, even in the darkest days.
It isn't much, but thanks for everything...
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