Speaking to the News of the World, Sir Alex Ferguson
claimed that he had no intention of hanging up his managerial
mantle in the foreseeable future, despite saying last season that
he hoped to call it quits by the time he turned 70.
"Why would I pack it in at the moment? I don’t ever think about
it any more — it’s all out of my mind," said the
66-year-old. "It doesn’t come into it now. I don’t even think
about it.
"I am not even going to put myself into that situation where I
am thinking should I this year, should I next year?"
On the surface at least, there seems to be no reason
why Ferguson should bring the curtain down on his glorious 22-year
stay at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils are currently defending crowns on both the
European and domestic fronts, and their squad is arguably stronger
than the one which claimed the Treble in 1999.
Thus, with United in such a healthy state, only Ferguson's own
infirmity could stand in his way, and he joked: "If my health
deteriorated, that solves the problem for everyone. You would be
rid of me for good!"
But even Sir Alex wouldn't admit that he has never thought about
retirement, and he has already made up his mind about the proper
way to do it.
"I won’t wake up one day and say that’s it. I wouldn’t do that,"
he said. "The time to retire would be at the end of the
summer. I used to say top players don’t retire at the end of the
season.
"I remember (former Celtic manager) Billy McNeill retiring at
the end of the season then he got through the summer and he was
wanting to go again - he was sorry he retired.
"You have a summer break and get refreshed again you want to go
again.
"But if you have your holiday and come in for the first training
session and think - not another training session, I think that
would be the time."