When my phone alarm sounded this morning I hit the snooze
button almost instantly without glancing at the screen. When it rang several
minutes later I repeated this process. On the third ring I decided to glance at
the screen, I was notified that Sir Alex Ferguson had announced his retirement.
I had been wondering when the man who has been the face of Manchester United
since before my birth would announce his retirement. When this day finally
arrived I found myself unprepared.

I often wondered during marathon sessions of Football
Manager when the greatest manager of all time would decide to call it a day. Despite
suffering defeat in the UEFA Champion’s League at the hands of Jose Mourinho’s
Real Madrid, his squad had cruised to victory in the Premier League. This season had been a typically successful
one by Fergie’s standards, capturing his 13
th Premier League title,
with a squad that many regarded as unremarkable.
The entrance of Robin Van Persie had buoyed the squad, Wayne
Rooney’s role had diminished in comparison to past seasons, and Michael Carrick
put on a season of spectacular displays in the midfield. His squad included a balanced mixture of
veteran influence, youth, and a splash of new blood in the form of Van Persie
and Shinji Kagawa. Fergie remained true to his mantra that “No player is bigger
than the club.” Many suggest that this philosophy has been the key to his
success as a manger, and it is hard to dispute. He has continued to find
success despite the departure of many club legends such as Roy Keane, Cristiano
Ronaldo, David Beckham, and Ruud van Nistelrooy. In an era where players are given ever
increasing influence over their clubs, Ferguson made it clear that his
influence would not be undermined.

Sir Alex won’t leave behind a distinctive tactical legacy,
but he will be regarded in football history as one of the best man managers
ever to walk the touchline. His
trademark “Fergie Time” will remain something he is remembered for, which his
teams have earned thanks to countless occasions of stoppage time heroics. He
will stay with the club as a director and spokesman, but will be unable to
exercise his touchline influence on players, officials, and the Old Trafford
faithful. Speculation has already begun on who will be chosen to fill the
massive void left by Fergie’s absence. Whether it is Jose Mourinho, David
Moyes, Manuel Pellegrini, or another candidate remains to be seen, but the shoes
must be filled.
In addition to the identity of Ferguson’s replacement, there
are many questions that must be answered during the off-season. Will the
stalwart duo of Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs continue their careers following
the departure of their beloved manager? Will oft-disgruntled Wayne Rooney
continue with United? How will the new manager cope with the pressure of
following the most successful manager in world football history? Will that new
manager be given the same level of support and control that Fergie enjoyed? All
of these will be answered in time.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s legacy will be forever engrained in
Manchester United lore, along with his name on the Old Trafford North Stand and
his statue standing guard over the Theater of Dreams. There is no question that
he is the greatest.