Rio Ferdinand had a theory about Sir Alex Ferguson’s first retirement bombshell (Image: Getty Images)
Rio Ferdinand said he and many team-mates were not convinced that Sir Alex Ferguson wanted to leave Manchester United in 2002. After 27 years of management, Ferguson waved farewell to Old Trafford at the end of the 2012/13 season.
The final Premier League title he won in that last season is still the club’s most recent league triumph. Yet, 11 years earlier, Ferguson dropped the sudden bombshell that he was intent on retiring.
While Ferguson claimed he was walking away as a result of concerns with his health and age, other reports claimed he had a falling out with the board. While the football world prepared to say goodbye to the Scot, Ferdinand admitted he was not entirely convinced that Ferguson was going to retire.
On the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, the former defender said: “We thought he [Ferguson] was trying to get a new deal!” Ex-United CEO Peter Kenyon responded with laughter and said: “I think he did,” before adding: “But no, there was genuine stuff going on, and at that point he thought that’s what he wanted to do.”
The backdrop to Ferguson’s initial exit plan was less than ideal. United were languishing in ninth place by December 2001 and high-profile acquisition Juan Sebastian Veron was failing to impress on the field.
Ferguson’s sensational change of heart in February 2002 came at the right time, as United went on to clinch 13 victories in their subsequent 15 premier league games, finishing the season in third place. Notably, this resurgence came despite Arsenal securing a pivotal 1-0 victory at Old Trafford later that season.
However, if Ferguson had followed through with his retirement, Old Trafford could have witnessed one of the most audacious managerial moves in Premier League history, reports the Mirror.
Peter Kenyon also offered an insight into those talks (Image: Stanley Chou/Getty Images)
Kenyon disclosed that there were “discussions” to entice then-Arsenal chief Arsene Wenger, the architect of two league and cup doubles within five years, to Old Trafford. Nonetheless, Sven-Goran Eriksson also claimed in his book that he had signed a contract to take over as manager, should Ferguson retire.
Despite this claim, Kenyon maintained that while Eriksson penned an agreement, the club had not reciprocated at that juncture. After deciding to continue, Ferguson’s team regained their Premier League title by securing the championship in 2002/03.
However, they had to wait four years to replicate this success, with Arsenal’s Invincibles and Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea outperforming them for the top spot between 2004 and 2006.
Nevertheless, United made a strong comeback with five title wins along with a Champions League victory in seven seasons. This successful streak ended with Ferguson’s retirement in 2013 a departure that was more genuine than his earlier promise.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1962313/man-utd-sir-alex-ferguson-rio-ferdinand