Sir Alex Ferguson will
retire at the end of the season, Manchester United confirms.
A United statement reads:
"The most successful manager in English football history will bow out
after the West Bromwich Albion game on 19 May and join the football club
board."
On announcing his
decision to retire, Sir Alex Ferguson says:
"The decision to retire is one that I have thought a great deal about and
one that I have not taken lightly. It is the right time.
"It was
important to me to leave an organization in the strongest possible shape and I
believe I have done so. The quality of this league winning squad, and the
balance of ages within it, bodes well for continued success at the highest
level whilst the structure of the youth set-up will ensure that the long-term
future of the club remains a bright one."