Sir Alex Ferguson is not leaving Manchester United until ill health or the owners' wishes force him out - not even to allow 'great friend' Jose Mourinho to take the reigns at Old Trafford. When queried about the possibility of the Portuguese coach replacing him as United manager, Ferguson replied that he's not expecting to vacate the helm any time soon:
Jose is a great friend of mine. We have spoken many times about his future and I understand his wish to return to England because here a coach has more freedom than in Spain, without the constant following of the media and radio.
But it's difficult for me to say when my position will be available. It will be my health that decides. I will continue until I no longer feel the energy that has always accompanied me.
My father, who worked in the shipyards, retired at the age of 65 and one year later he was dead. The worst you can do is to say I have worked for 45 years and now I have a right to rest. You need to always remain active and in good form.
Basically, Sir Alex Ferguson is going to keep running Manchester United until he's just about dead, because doing nothing would kill him. Fair enough. Ferguson is now 70 years old and has been running the club since he was 45 - him stepping down would be like the queen abdicating. In other words, Jose, you're not coming to United if you leave Real Madrid this year, and you'd be much better off angling for the soon to-be-former jobs of Roberto Mancini and Carlo Ancelotti at Manchester City or Chelsea.