Latest Stories, Video, and Commentary about Manchester United #mufc

Latest Stories, Video, and Commentary about Manchester United Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson has no plans to retire  Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says he no longer thinks about retiring as he receives an honorary doctorate from Manchester University. Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says he no longer thinks about retiring and is looking forward to bringing further success to the club. The 69-year-old is celebrating 25 years as United boss but has intimated he would step down if his health or hunger for the job deteriorated. "I just don't think about retirement any more," said Ferguson. "We've got a good young team and a lot of youth at the club as well as some tremendous staff. The future is good." Ferguson added: "When you've been on the treadmill for so long, 25 years in my case, and my health is good at the moment, it's just a matter of looking forward to being the manager of Manchester United, rather than worrying about Alex Ferguson. "The great part for me is still to be out on the field with the players and coaching them. As the game has changed, I have had to change with it. For example, sports science in the last decade has seen a phenomenal improvement and that has become a major development in the game." SIR ALEX FERGUSON'S UNITED HONOURS Premier League (12): 1992-93, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2002-03, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2010-11 FA Cup (5): 1989-90, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1998-99, 2003-04 League Cup (4): 1991-92, 2005-06, 2008-09, 2009-10 Champions League (2): 1998-99, 2007-08 Cup Winners' Cup (1): 1990-91 Club World Cup (1): 2008 The Scot, who was speaking at a ceremony where he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Manchester for his quarter of a century at Old Trafford, added: "I think it's always nice to be appreciated and recognised, and getting this recognition is testimony to all the hard work that has gone on at Manchester United in the last 25 years, not just by me, but by everyone at the club." Since joining United from Aberdeen in November 1986, Ferguson has become the most decorated coach in British football. He has won the Premier League title 12 times, the FA Cup on five occasions, four League Cup finals, two Champions League triumphs and also the now-defunct European Cup Winners' Cup. University of Manchester deputy president and deputy vice-chancellor Professor Rod Coombs, who was also in attendance at Tuesday's ceremony, said: "These two and a half decades of the Ferguson era at United have coincided with - and been a big part of - the renaissance of this city. That renaissance has been manifest in industry, in commerce, in architecture, in the arts, in our university, and in sport. "Of course we are blessed with two great football clubs here, but today we are celebrating the achievements of one manager who has made a unique contribution at Manchester United, and through that, a unique contribution to the city of Manchester and its prominence in the world. "Every citizen of Manchester, every business in Manchester, and everything that comes out of Manchester, has an extra visibility and an instant recognition factor all over the world. "The sustained success of Manchester United is such a potent driver of that phenomenon. And the reason it has been sustained for so long is standing here on the platform today. His achievements are truly unique." Dejan Stankovic to retire and leave Serbia to rebuild October 12, 2011 at 6:54 PM Dejan Stankovic is to retire from international football as doubts arise over the futures of Nemanja Vidic and Serbia coach Vladimir Petrovic.   Serbia face rebuidling ahead of World Cup qualifiers against Scotland and Wales after talisman Dejan Stankovic announced his international retirement. And Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic also hinted that he is considering the same decision. Captain and Inter Milan midfielder Stankovic is already 33, while Vidic is now 29. The pair were talking after Serbia failed to qualify for the Euro 2012 finals, finishing third in Group C. Tuesday's 1-0 defeat away to Balkan rivals Slovenia saw Estonia - who were not in action - claim the play-off spot in a group already won by Italy. Coach Vladimir Petrovic, who took over from Radomir Antic after a 1-1 home draw with Slovenia early in the campaign, could follow Stankovic through the exit door after failing with a cagey and ineffective 4-5-1 formation. It is time to bring on younger players in the national side. Some of the old-stagers should retire from the team Nemanja Vidic Serbia defender Stankovic, who equalled Savo Milosevic's record of 102 international appearances, confirmed he would hang up his boots after the next friendly international, which will make him Serbia's most-capped player. "This was my last competitive match for my country, I will play one more game and that will be my farewell to the national team," Stankovic told Belgrade media. "Slovenia, who had only pride to play for, produced an outstanding performance while we had dropped points in places we shouldn't have before we came to what was always going to be a difficult away match in Maribor. "It is a painful end because we had the quality to reach next year's finals in Poland and Ukraine and we really should have done better." Vidic, who missed the chance to equalise from the penalty spot after Dare Vrsic's high cross deceived goalkeeper Bojan Jorgacevic to give Slovenia the lead in first-half stoppage time, thought it was a time for reflection. "It is time to bring on younger players in the national side," said the defender with 56 caps. "Some of the old-stagers should retire from the team." WORLD CUP 2014 QUALIFYING GROUP A Scotland (52) Croatia (9) Serbia (21) Belgium (34) Macedonia (94) Wales (90) (World ranking in brackets) Petrovic was frank when asked if he would step down from the side seeded 21st in the world. "They don't need to sack me because my contract expires in two months' time and it's up to the FA whether they want to extend it," said the coach. Of the six teams drawn in Europe's World Cup qualifying Group A, none have so far qualified for the Euro 2012 finals, with only Croatia still having a chance to make it via the play-offs. The Croats, who are ranked ninth in the world, failed to top Group F despite a 2-0 win over Latvia after two late goals put Greece through following their 2-1 win in Georgia. Belgium, who are ranked 34th, finished behind Germany and Turkey in Group A after losing 3-1 in Dusseldorf as the Turks edged out Azerbaijan 1-0. Macedonia, now 94th in the world, finished fifth in Group B, ending their campaign with a 1-1 draw at home to Slovakia. The Scots, presently 52nd in the world, missed out on finishing runners-up in Group I after losing 3-1 in Spain as the Czech Republic leaprogged them following a 4-1 demolition of Lithuania. Wales, ranked 90, were fourth in Group G but ended on a high with back-to-back wins over Switzerland and Bulgaria.

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Ethical practice award for United boss. #mufc

 Sir Alex Ferguson has become a recipient of the renowned 'Tor Vergata Ethics In Sport Award' from the Tor Vergata University, in Rome, Italy. The Scotland born and bred football manager was praised for the way he handled the humbling 19th Barclays Premier League title win and being gracious in defeat to FC Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League Final. The gaffer gave a speech to students upon accepting the prestigious gift. 

Ferguson is closing in on his 25th year at Manchester United, having 37 competitive trophies to his name and even more with previous Scottish clubs St. Mirren and Aberdeen. In total, he has won 48 titles as a footie boss. In his playing career, he featured for Queen's Park, St. Johnstone, Dunfermline Athletic, Rangers, Falkirk and Ayr United, before starting his management spell in charge of East Stirlingshire, and later coaching the Scotland national team. 

He has presided over more than 2,000 matches as a manager, the majority of them (1,400) with United. He still looks as hungry as ever, and recently recieved the Barclays Manager Of The Month award for August. Sir Alex gratefully accepted the 'Ethics In Sport Award' from the Tor Vergata college in Rome, and spoke of his personal experience as manager of one of the greatest football clubs of all time.

Italian players' association president Damiano Tommasi - former Roma midfielder - presented Mr. Ferguson with the accolade which he previously benefited from. Former winners of the gong include current UEFA President Michel Platini, former Roma President Franco Sensi, football manager Zdenek Zeman, and cross-country skier Stefania Belmondo. Fergie stands out as one of the only holders outside of Italy to be awarded the prize.


Sir Alex Ferguson has already seen off a few pretenders to his Manchester United throne - and he intends to repel a few more even though he will celebrate his 70th birthday later this year.  It will be 25 years since Ferguson was appointed United manager on November 6. It is also nearly a decade since he performed an abrupt U-turn on his retirement plans.

What has followed, in addition to five more Premier League titles and another Champions League triumph, has been a guessing game about when Ferguson will eventually call it a day.

With that, comes the topic of his successor.   At various times, Bryan Robson, Steve McClaren, Mark Hughes, Martin O'Neill and a host of top continental bosses have been linked with the job.  Current favourite to replace Ferguson is Jose Mourinho, although a mounting disciplinary crime sheet at Real Madrid is not helping his cause.  Yet, speaking to the Italian media at an awards ceremony at University of Rome Tor Vergata, Ferguson confirmed he is going nowhere.

"Over the years I've had the question who do I think could replace me? Now in those years, some of the coaches they were talking about to replace me don't have jobs any more.
"So it becomes very difficult because someone who I think has potential may be sacked by his club and disappear.

 "I think you would need someone very experienced in the long term. But I have absolutely no idea... first of all, I'm not retiring."
 
With Arsene Wenger's crown slipping badly in recent times, Ferguson is unquestionably the most powerful manager in England. At United, his authority over team matters is absolute. It is impossible to imagine any player being bought or sold without his agreement, although he does not always get his man.  

"There's only one certainty: I will always be in charge.
"I wanted Maldini. I asked his dad Cesare about Paolo and he told me I was crazy."
Nobody told Ferguson he was crazy for trying to sign Wesley Sneijder in the summer and for a long time, even the Dutchman thought he would end up at Old Trafford.

Eventually, Ferguson decided the sums did not add up given he was not the like-for-like replacement for Paul Scholes he had been after."Sneijder is not the ideal replacement for Scholes," he said.
"He's a fantastic player but he was not who we were looking for to replace Scholes. Only Xavi and Iniesta are comparable to Scholes."

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