With an impressive 12th Premier League title all but wrapped up and a potential third Champions League trophy on the horizon, few would forgive Sir Alex Ferguson for stepping down from Manchester United at the end of the season. The legendary Scot, who will celebrate his landmark 70th birthday next season, has confirmed that he will stay on for has long as his health will let him - news that is sure to please the hoards of United fans dotted around the globe. As a result Paddy Power have now placed Ferguson at long odds of 200/1 to be the next Premier League manager to leave.
Ferguson, who is the longest-serving manager in English football, has won a plethora of honours since taking charge of United in 1986, including 11 Premier League titles, five FA Cups, four League Cups, nine FA Charity/Community shields, two Champions League trophies amongst others. United's 2-1 win against Chelsea in the title showdown at Old Trafford means they only need a solitary point from their remaining two games (away to Blackburn Rovers and at home to Blackpool) to seal an unprecedented 19th league title. This impressive achievement will eclipse rivals Liverpool's tally of 18 league crowns, with the Merseyside club experiencing a league drought since 1990. However, Liverpool can still boast of being the most successful English club in Europe with five European titles to United's three - a figure Ferguson will be more determined than ever to add to.
There has been growing speculation that Ferguson would retire at the end of the season if United won the domestic and European double. However, Ferguson has stated that he will definitely be at the United helm next season regardless or not if they win the double. Ferguson contemplated retiring once before back in 2002, only to change his mind when his wife urged him to carry on. It is clearly evident that Ferguson still has the passion and hunger to carry on and win more trophies to add to his already brimming trophy cabinet, and you get the feeling that next season he will be looking to go one better and win the treble.
United will play Barcelona in the Champions League final at Wembley on May 28th in what will be their third final in the competition in four years. Ferguson will be determined to erase the painful memories of two years ago when Barcelona outplayed a mediocre United, winning 2-0 in the final at Rome's Stadio Olimpico. The bookies have installed Barcelona as the favourites, with Paddy Power pricing the Spanish giants at 21/20 to win, whilst Manchester United are available at 3/1, and a draw is 12/5.
