Glory, Glory Man Utd. Harry Harris
trophy. Rooney watched in his tracksuit from his executive box, holding his baby and with his very pregnant wife Colleen, but changed into full kit for the title presentation on the pitch, where he was noticeably jeered by some supporters when collecting his winnersʼ medal. He did manage a cursory embrace with his departing manager, who was by the podium to greet all his players before receiving the trophy, but it was far from convivial, and it was clear Rooney was upset about being on the bench for the big Champions League tie with Real Madrid, and equalled fed up at being hooked so many times. Sir Alex later explained, “I donʼt think Wayne was keen to play, simply because he has asked for a transfer. I think he should go away and think it over again. He wasnʼt happy about being taken off a few times this season but a Wayne Rooney in top form wouldnʼt be taken off.”
Even Rooneyʼs future was little more than a side show to the main event, and nothing was going to detract from that, not even a sulking superstar, irrespective of how big the headlines that had created, Sir Alexʼs farewell inspired whole pull outs
As a fitting farewell Sir Alex received a standing ovation. Sir Alex addressed the fans, microphone in hand, something he had done at the end of each season reviewing the past season giving a rallying call to the next. This was vastly different, as he told them, “I have no script in my mind. Iʼm just going to ramble and hope I get to the core of what this football club has meant to me. Thank you to Manchester United, not just the directors, medics, staff, players, supporters, all of you. Thank you. You have been the most fantastic experience of my life.”
As the rain fell he implored his loyal fans to “stand by your new manager”. David Moyes could not have got better backing, “Iʼd like to remind you that at the start, the club stood by me, the staff stood by me, the players stood by me and now it is your job to stand by our new manager.”
He thanked fans and supporters, and his family, ahead of his trophy presentation. Managing the club was the “most fantastic experience of my life” he said and that he was “very fortunate” to manage some of the countryʼs best players. It was “not the end” he told the fans. The next time he takes his seat at Old Trafford it will be in the directorsʼ box, “Iʼll be able to now enjoy watching the team rather than suffer with them.”
Sir Alex praised Paul Scholes, who was chosen to play after announcing his retirement the day before the game. He told the fans, “Before I start blubbing, I want to pay tribute to Paul Scholes who retires today. He is an unbelievable player, one of the greatest players this club will ever have. Paul, I wish you a good retirement, though I know youʼll be around, annoying me! And I wish Darren Fletcher a speedy recovery for the club.”
He went on, “I wish the players every success for the future. You know how good you are, the jersey you are wearing, and all the people here. Donʼt let yourselves down. Iʼm just going inside now. Thank you once again, from all the Ferguson family. Theyʼre all up there – 11 grandchildren. Thank you. Thank you.”
The stadium erupted in applause at the comments, and then the rest of the Ferige Show was the thing that epitomised his reign more than anything – delivering the silverware. Two of Sir Alexʼs most tried and trusted former captains, Steve Bruce and Bryan Robson carried the Premier League trophy out to the middle. “Albert give us a wave” was the chant as kit man Albert Morgan, also due to retire at the end of the season, emerged from the tunnel.
Later, in his media conferences, he disclosed the timetable for his big decision. “I decided to retire last Christmas. Things changed when my wife Cathyʼs sister died. She has lost her best friend, her sister. Also, I wanted to go out a winner. It was very difficult [to keep it under wraps]. There were times when we sometimes blurted it out to the family. We told our sons in March. My brother didnʼt even know until Tuesday.” He doesnʼt know where the leak came as news filtered out of the club hours ahead of his retirement announcement. He explained, “This club is a sieve”.
Sir Alex added, ʼThe most important achievement was winning the first league and the door opened after that. We just grew and grew and grew. We had some fantastic teams. He insisted he wonʼt be bored, “Iʼve got a lot of things to do. My son Jasonʼs been organising things. I wonʼt be sitting still.” As for his big day, he said, “Itʼs fantastic. What a send-off. I was bubbling there for a bit. The atmosphere was unbelievable. Iʼm very proud of my fans, they were great. Iʼve had a few days of wobbling a bit but you have to gather yourself. I wanted the fourth official to put up seven minutes! I was going to kill him!”
“What will you miss most?” Sir Alex was asked. “Those last – minute goals,” he said. “I love those.”
The players were full of praise for their departing manager, as you might have expected, led by club captain Nemanja Vidic, “I think it is a special day, in one way we are happy to get the trophy but in another we are sad the manager is not here another year. It will be strange not to see him in the dressing room. This is a big club and will always be a big club but it is sad after so many years, without him is going to be sad.”
Rio Ferdinand commented, “It is phenomenal what he has achieved. It speaks volumes about the type of man he is, and his desire to win, that he’s leaving the club behind in a healthy state.” Michael Carrick observed, “Itʼs been an emotional day for everyone. It was a strange feeling and itʼs been like that all week. It was a special, special day. Even in the changing room he tried to keep it as normal as possible but in the back of your mind you were thinking this is the last one. With the reception he got, it was amazing.”
Robin van Persie revealed the lure of working with Sir Alex was one of the chief reasons he chose United over City. He explained added: “Itʼs an unbelievable day but a sad one as well. I had the honour to work with him for one year and itʼs been an unbelievable year. Heʼs made such an impact on me. He may be the greatest manager ever and heʼs such a nice person. Before the game, he couldnʼt see anything about him retiring. All week heʼs been focused on what to do and what to expect. Itʼs a massive honour for me to say Iʼve worked with him for a year.”
The evergreen Giggs added, “Sir Alex just said play the game and not the occasion. He wanted to win the game, wanted it to be an entertaining game and for us to do the things which he has wanted us to as a manager. The memories of him that stick out are when I was younger. When I was 13 playing for Salford Boys and looking to the sidelines and there was Alex Ferguson watching.” Retiring Paul Scholes remarked, “Itʼs been a good day. Weʼve won the game, thatʼs all that matters. Weʼll celebrate tonight and hopefully in more years there will be more trophies for these players. Today it was just nice to get through the game. I thought Sir Alex handled it well, he spoke really well and he has done a fantastic job here. I know itʼs the right time for me to go. Itʼs not been the season I would have liked personally, but weʼve won the league and itʼs a great day.”
Phil Jones added, “Itʼs been incredible [working under Sir Alex Ferguson]. Heʼs a fantastic manager. What heʼs done for me has been fantastic and I canʼt thank him enough.” Jonny Evans said, “Obviously with the manager retiring, the atmosphere here is even more emotional. Itʼs a great day to be involved. Heʼs had a big effect on my career. Itʼs hard to put into words. We probably wonʼt notice it until a few years down the line when heʼs not here anymore. I think heʼs always had the ability to get the most out of his squad, with rotating the team and motivating players.”
Michael Laudrup recognised the match had been overshadowed as he pointed out in the immediate post-match interview, “It is a special day. It is one thing that a manager in a big club stops, but this is a lifetime not a small era. It is incredible. I have a lot of respect for Sir Alex to have so many years in the same club, so unique. It is a lifetime. I said before and just after, it is a celebration. For us it is a game in which we could relax. We did what we have done this season, finish ninth and we will stay there, we won the League Cup also.”
Not too far away, and a touch earlier in the day, over at Goodison Park, Sir Alexʼs chosen successor, David Moyes received heart felt applause from Everton fans as his team concluded their penultimate match before he departed for the managerial role at Old Trafford. Moyes was moved by the reception he received both before, during and after the 2 – 0 win over West Ham in his final appearance at Goodison. Moyes was highly