Sir Alex Alludes To Mourinho As His Successor

The Manchester United boss has given a clear hint that it could be the Internazionale boss who is the one capable of continuing the legacy that the Scot built up.

For so long Sir Alex Ferguson has given no clear indication when exactly he shall retire from club management, but earlier today - and as reported by Goal.com - the wily Scot expressed that he would sketch his last chalk-board once he has claimed a further two European Cups.

That only leaves the question as to who has the capacity, the nuance, the know-how, to succeed a man who has overseen a lengthy period of unrivalled dominance in the Premier League. Many have pin-pointed former Manchester United sons Mark Hughes, Roy Keane, and Steve Bruce as noble contenders. Others foresee Martin O'Neill as the man to push the Old Trafford outfit on.

Former Chelsea manager and current Internazionale boss Jose Mourinho, though, could be in line to become the first non-British and non-Irish person to command control of one of the most famous names in world football, as Ferguson today dropped a hint that it is the charismatic Portuguese, who he holds in the highest of regards.

Regarding his successor, Sir Alex told CNN, "I am glad it is not my decision. But whoever it is, it needs to be someone with experience.

"Manchester United is a massive club," he said. "The club I joined in 1986 is nothing like the one it is today."

Something Special

Referencing specific candidates who could execute the job to a high quality, Ferguson nominated a man whom he has a certain amount of affection for. However, he also tempered his words with caution.

"I like Jose Mourinho. He is a good guy and someone I get on very well with. But people forget how quickly the game changes. The job of a football manager is a pretty fragile one.

"You can be on the very top of the world and then after two defeats you are the worst team ever. Hopefully I will be here for another two or three years. Who knows what will have happened in that time.

"Thinking about Jose Mourinho or Arsene Wenger or whoever is going to be impossible."

Many have speculated that Ferguson will retire once he ensures Manchester United succeed Liverpool as the most successful English club, although his age have more of a say.

"I am 67 now," he said. "At the moment I am still healthy and enjoying my job. If that was different I would quit immediately.

"But winning a specific trophy does not come into it. I would love this club to win more European trophies. We definitely should have at least a couple more.

"But just by being in so many semi-finals and quarter-finals, it shows you how hard it is to win," he concluded.

Alan Dawson, Goal.com