Alex Ferguson says he will quit Manchester United within three years.
The revelation came days after winning the European Champions League – the 22nd trophy of his 22-year Old Trafford reign.
“I won’t be managing here any more than three years at the very, very most,” the 66-year-old Ferguson was quoted in the Mail on Sunday newspaper. “Without question. I can assure you of that.”
Ferguson is English soccer’s most decorated manager with 20 trophies in 20 seasons. He already knows what can happen by making retirement plans public.
The 2001-02 season was set to have been the Scot’s last as United manager, but the team’s performance declined after the announcement and he rescinded his decision.
United rebounded to win the 2003 Premier League title and Ferguson, who is on a one-year rolling contract, has not been specific about his plans since.
Ferguson was indebted to his wife Cathy for “bullying” him into scrapping those retirement plans.
“I think my wife deserves a bit of my time, too,” he said. “The older you get, the more you feel guilty about it. My wife, Cathy, was the one who talked me out of retiring last time but she wouldn’t do that now.”
With its 17th English league title won earlier this month, Ferguson has guided United within one of matching Liverpool’s record of 18.
“I know I would find it hard to give up managing United,” he said. “I can’t do it, not at the moment anyway.”
Ferguson previously has refused to set a timetable for his departure, but he has been discussing his exit from Old Trafford with increasing frequency in recent months.
The one-time apprentice toolmaker in Glasgow’s shipyards came close to being fired just three years into his United career.
While he had led Aberdeen to consecutive Scottish titles and a European Cup Winners Cup, guiding United to its first English title since 1967 was a struggle.
The turning point was an FA Cup triumph in 1990 and the European Cup Winners’ Cup the following season, beating Barcelona in the title match.
Then in 1992 – the first season of the Premier League – Ferguson’s United finally became England’s top side.
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