Sir Alex Ferguson’s influence at Manchester United has been an ongoing debate amid the club’s struggles since his retirement in 2013. The 82-year-old, a global football ambassador, is on United’s football board and has had a say in multiple major decisions across the last decade.
However, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has informed Ferguson that his ambassadorial contract, which earns him over £2million every year, won’t continue beyond the current season.
It goes without saying that the Old Trafford icon will still be welcomed at United’s home and away games, but the decision marks the end of his direct affiliation.
While Ferguson etched his name into football folklore as United manager, lifting 38 trophies during his 26-year reign, some of the calls he has influenced since his retirement haven’t gone to plan.
Express Sport walks down memory lane to pinpoint the three most high-profile examples…
David Moyes – The Chosen One
There is perhaps some truth to the belief that whichever manager was tasked with following Ferguson’s act was doomed from the off.
Therefore, it made sense that the club handed their iconic boss full responsibility over handpicking his successor. It was no surprise that the candidate was David Moyes.
But when Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp were in the frame, you couldn’t help but wonder whether United’s decline would’ve been so aggressive had Moyes’ disastrous 11-month tenure not happened.
Ferguson reportedly also had a key say in sacking Moyes in April 2014, which serves as a nice segway…
Jury duty for his successors
The 13-time Premier League winner is believed to have played a role in every managerial appointment and dismissal since he retired, apart from Erik ten Hag.
Ferguson was reportedly called upon to offer endorsements about Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
But none of the appointments harvested the success Old Trafford figures would’ve wanted.
Van Gaal lifted the FA Cup shortly before his sacking, Mourinho won the League Cup and Europa League in the same season, while Solskjaer orchestrated entertaining football but left without silverware.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s return
Everyone should know this story by now. The summer of 2021 hosted one of the most incredible transfer sagas in football history.
As Cristiano Ronaldo appeared set to join Manchester City, United called upon Ferguson to convince the five-time Ballon d’Or winner to return to Old Trafford.
Ferguson has confirmed he was among those to play their part, stating: “I just couldn’t imagine him playing for Manchester City.”
But Ronaldo’s explosive exit at the end of 2022 – and the fact his arrival spelt doom for Solskjaer’s job – left many wondering whether it was the correct call.
Content Source: www.express.co.uk