I'll be staying on just a bit longer! Fergie hopes to bring more success to United at 71



Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson celebrated his 71st birthday this week by revealing he has no plans to retire in the immediate future.

Ferguson took his table-topping team to Wigan on Tuesday, the day after his birthday, and was asked in an interview with Abu Dhabi Sports who he thought would replace him when he eventually decides to stand down.

The United boss said: 'There is no-one on the agenda, but somebody will have to replace me.

Hungry for more: Alex Ferguson is set to stay at Manchester United for the foreseeable future

Many happy returns: Sir Alex Ferguson gave a wide-ranging interview in Abu Dhabi on his 71st birthday

'I'm hoping to stay on for a bit of time, anyway.

'It's very difficult. Over the years, names have been bandied about but football is such a precarious industry.

'But you could be talking about one of the potentially exciting young managers in the game, but is he going to be here in two or three years' time. The sack race is horrendous.

'Sometimes a manager can only survive four games if he doesn't win a match. It's impossible to say who is going to be there.' Ferguson was asked specifically in the interview about the credentials of Everton manager David Moyes, Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho and former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola.

The fire still burns: Manchester United's manager is as combative as ever after more than 25 years at Old Trafford

Heirs to the throne? Jose Mourinho (top left), Pep Guardiola (top right) and David Moyes (below)



He added: 'There will always be names bandied about and they are all qualified people. Nobody knows where they are going to be in two or three years time.

'Top managers will always been in demand.

'Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, David Moyes. There are a lot of successful managers out there. But I don't know what their plans will be in two or three years' time.

'In terms of football management, I have achieved everything I always wished for. It's been a great journey for me.

'But being manager of Manchester United, you have to kick on. You can't look back.

'The drive is always on to do better, although it's not easy in the Barclays Premier League. It's a difficult league.

'And European football is getting stronger and stronger.'



VIDEO: Watch Sir Alex Ferguson's full interview