Alex Ferguson plans to stick around at Old Trafford
Posted Wednesday, September 07, 2011 by The Sun
ALEX FERGUSON insists he still has no plans to retire — even though he turns 70 at the end of this year.
Fergie will clock up 25 years as Manchester United boss on November 6.
Plenty of other names have been mentioned as possible successors over the last quarter of a century.
But Fergie has seen them all off and insists he will keep modern-day pretenders to his throne such as Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola waiting for a while longer yet.
Ferguson said: "Over the years I've had the question who do I think could replace me?
"Now some of the coaches who people 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... and anyway I'm not retiring!"
Mourinho's crown has slipped at Real Madrid in recent months with the former Chelsea chief landing himself in hot water over his behaviour during El Clasico games against big rivals Barcelona.
But Ferguson is a fan of his old rival and added: "I don't find anything wrong with his enthusiasm.
"As a youngster I was more animated on the bench, I was always there gesticulating and directing the game.
"It's Mourinho's nature to get agitated. There are other coaches who instead are there and only take notes.
"When I saw Mourinho run up and down at Old Trafford when he coached Porto, I said to myself: I too would have done that.
"People recognise the enthusiasm. Fans understand that you are fighting for them, for the team."
Fergie also insisted he does not see Inter Milan's Wesley Sneijder as a replacement for Paul Scholes, who retired in the summer.
The United chief said: "Sneijder is 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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